The imposition of the N70,000 minimum wage presents opportunities for intensified struggles. Faced with hunger, children out of school and galloping inflation, workers, youths, women, farmers and the grassroot masses will engage in protests and struggles in the coming months. We should all support and encourage such protests. We can all support protests in our communities and states.
Nigerian governments do not honour agreements with labour unions. So, they are not likely to honour the N70,000 minimum wage unless we fight very hard for its immediate implementation. We can encourage all kinds of struggles
(demonstration, protests, work to rule, go slow, fewer work days, strikes) at the state level and in the private sector.
Given that some states have not even implemented the N30,000 minimum wage, this is going to be a very serious struggle. Thus, we encourage an immediate struggle for the full implementation of the minimum wage (with back pay to April 2024) for states/Federal Government and private sector employers.
All trade union members need to talk to their branch officers etc about calling general meetings to discuss the attacks on our living standards. Trade union branches should organise townhall meetings and regular protests. If you are not a trade union member you can talk to any trade unionists you know about the need for campaign to implement the minimum wage and protest against price increases.
Given that the Federal and State governments have not given NLC/TUC a commitment to freeze future prices of petrol, food stuff, transport and housing rent, nor stop the continuous devaluation of the Naira, we should encourage workers to fight for the reduction of the workday to 4-6 hrs or the week to 2-3 workdays without any cuts or reduction in pay. Many Federal workers have only been going to work two or three times a week since last year.
We should all encourage struggles against the increasing cost of living, taxation, education, health, unemployment and inflation. We need to campaign for the following demands:
- a decent minimum wage with annual increments in line with inflation; with full implementation of the new minimum wage as quickly as possible
- payment of all salary and pension arrears in states and payment of proper palliatives
- reversal of school and tuition fee hikes and the introduction of a maximum affordable fee level
- reversal of the hikes in petrol and electricity prices
- removal of the collection of fees, dues and tolls from petty traders.
- release of all #EndSARS detainees.
Download our full Socialist Bulletin for August 2024 with the link below:
https://socialistlabour.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/SL-bulletin-August-2024.pdf
