Workers In Edo Resume Duty After Strike Suspension, Independence Day


Work resumed today Nationwide after Organised labour on Sunday announced the suspension of the warning strike over the indefinite suspension of negotiations for a new national minimum wage by the Federal Government.

The suspension could not however took effect On Monday October 1 due to the public holiday declared by the federal government to commemorate Nigeria’s 58th Independence Anniversary.

Some of the Government ministries, Departments, Agencies, private institutions and schools visited by Our Correspondent across the state capital were all open for service as an attendance register in one of the ministries showed workers reported to their duty posts as early as 7.05am.

A civil servant, Barr Melody Omosah said the strike by workers over non increase of their minimum wage is constitutional, hence the demand for increment is long over due.

"Government should follow through with their promise to negotiate with labour and arrived at a wage that can take workers home. They should take into cognisance the present economy threat because when there is any distortion in the economy, workers are always hit", Barr Omosah added

The strike, which was embarked on by Organised labour to compel federal government to shore up workers’ salaries from the current minimum of N18,000 to N65,500, had paralysed social and economic activities across the country.

On the Independence Day Celebration, Omosah asserted that the country can only get better despite her numerous challenges in the last 58years.

"It is better to be free them than still be under the colonial masters. Nigeria at 58 we have not done too bad, there is room for us to do better as we have all the trappings to be a great nation. We just urge that Nigerians who are the best everywhere in the world should be given they right climate for them to be able to bring out their contribution that will take this forward", He further added.

Also Mrs Edith Ojiezele said an increase in the minimum wage will cushion the harsh economic climate citizens have to face in recent times with the increase in prices of goods and services.

"If they really meet the demand of workers, it will be really good because as we can see things are very expensive, the rich are getting richer while the poor are getting poorer everyday but we still go to the same market, So if they are able to do that for us, It is acceptable and better", Mrs Ojiezele, a public servant told our correspondent.

However, President of Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) Ayuba Wabba said the decision to suspend the strike was to give the government the benefit of the doubt to reopen negotiations with organized labour for the new wage.

“Indeed, on Thursday morning, the strike commenced and was observed across the country. We wish to appreciate our workers and affiliate unions for their commitment and determination.

“We invite you here today to inform you that we have received a firm and formal invitation to a reconvened meeting of the tripartite committee scheduled for October 4 and 5, 2018", Wabba said

Recalled workers across the country staged a warning strike to press home their demand for the implementation of a new national minimum wage, after Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige announced an indefinite suspension of the tripartite committee sitting without arriving at any figure as minimum wage.


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