Nigerians have taken to social media, urging organized labour not to shut down the national grid if they resume their strike over demands for a new national minimum wage. The online appeal gained traction on Monday as the public awaited developments in the dispute between the government and labour unions regarding wage adjustments.
Despite these appeals, some believe that switching off the national grid is an effective strategy for labour to press their demands. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have rejected proposed wages of ₦62,000 or ₦100,000, demanding ₦250,000 as a living wage. This stance was reiterated during a recent Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage meeting.
The NLC’s Assistant General Secretary, Chris Onyeka, emphasized the urgency of the issue, noting that the grace period for the Federal Government to address workers’ demands will end at midnight on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Nigerians have expressed mixed reactions to the potential impact on the national grid, with many urging the labour unions to avoid causing further disruptions.