The leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has urged both the Federal Government and Organised Labour to return to the negotiation table and find a mutually acceptable solution for the sake of suffering Nigerians.
In a statement released by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, highlighted the immediate impact of the strike, noting that it has plunged the country into darkness, shut hospitals, and drained water supplies, exacerbating the hardships faced by Nigerians.
The LP emphasized that both parties need to make concessions to alleviate the suffering caused by the industrial action. Ifoh remarked that the Federal Government should not have allowed the strike to begin, acknowledging that a new minimum wage is indeed necessary.
He pointed out that the current minimum wage of N30,000, established by the Wage Act of 2019 signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari, is insufficient to meet the contemporary economic demands of workers and should be reviewed every five years.
The opposition party stressed that the government must demonstrate concern and sincerity, showing enough flexibility to earn the unions’ trust and bring them back to the negotiation table.