The Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) locked the Secretariat entrance on Monday in compliance with the labour union’s indefinite industrial action.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) had, on May 31, directed their members to embark on an indefinite strike starting from June 3.
According to the unions, the action was in response to the Federal Government’s failure to increase the proposed N60,000 minimum wage for workers and its refusal to reverse the recent increase in electricity tariffs.
The President of JUAC, Mrs Rifkatu Lortyer, told NAN in Abuja that the committee’s decision to deny workers access to the Secretariat was in compliance with the NLC and TUC directives.
Lortyer explained that JUAC, being part of the labour unions, had no choice but to fully enforce the strike.
“My advice to FCTA workers is simple: stay at home and be the obedient workers you’ve always been. The strike action is in the interest of Nigerian workers,” she said.
During the May Day celebration, the labour unions issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government to conclude negotiations on a new national minimum wage by May 31.
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The TUC President, Festus Osifo, told newsmen that the strike had become necessary because the government declined to increase the proposed N60,000 wage during the meeting of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage held on Friday.
Osifo also said that the strike was imperative due to the government’s refusal to reverse the hike in electricity tariffs.
