Nationwide Strike: OPS Threatens NLC, TUC

The Nigeria Organised Private Sector (OPS) has threatened the Nigerai Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) over their planned nationwide strike from Monday.

The OPS which spoke through the Director- General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, (NECA), Wale Smatt-Oyerinde, warned it would do all within its power to stop the strike.

“Following the third walkout by Organized Labour during the National Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee meeting, the Organized Private Sector of Nigeria, comprising Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN), National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), National Association of Small Scale Industries (NASME) and National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) expressed its concern as the National Minimum Wage Committee, after its 7th meeting, could not achieve a consensus., the OPS spokesman said in a statement.

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Reiterating that “Organised Businesses will also, within extant legislation do all that is necessary to protect enterprise sustainability and protect jobs”, he added:

“The Organized Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN) had approached the Minimum Wage negotiation hoping that current economic realities as it concerns the need to protect jobs and ensure sustained growth would play a paramount role.
“However, this was not the case. The Committee was set up to negotiate a new National Minimum Wage and not a living wage. Neither was it inaugurated to adjust salaries. The Minimum Wage is the wage that no employer should pay below, either in the private or public sector.

“Our position was informed by the need to arrest the ongoing job losses and continuous shut-down of businesses in Nigeria. It is important to state that jobs can only be guaranteed when businesses are alive and sustainable”.

Meanwhile, there is anxiety in the country of the likely impact of a nationwide strike at this time of economic challenge. .