Labour suspends warning strike

THE  Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has suspended its proposed three-day warning strike. The Federal Government and Labour negotiating team reached an agreement after long hours of dialogue in Abuja on Tuesday night.

The strike was to compel government at the three tier level to approve and ensure the implementation of the payment of the 18, 000 minimum wage as enacted in the Minimum Wage Act.

Organised labour announced the cancellation in a communique issued very late Tuesday night.www.mannastores.com

Labour hinged its decision on the agreement it reached with the Federal Government to commence full implementation of the Minimum Wage Act as from August 1, 2011.

"The strike has been suspended. We have reached agreements with the federal government on one hand and the state governors on the other," said Owei Lakemfa, acting general secretary of the Nigerian Labour Congress.

The Federal Government had on Monday said it would only pay a certain category of workers for a start and commence the full implementation of the new wage regime next year.

Under the agreement reached, workers of all cadres in the public service will benefit from the expected upward review of salaries that will follow the implementation.

All arrears since the law was signed last March are also expected to be paid.

The communique concluded that "no worker shall be victimised" as a result of this industrial action.

The communique was signed on behalf of the Federal Government by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu; and Head of Service of the Federation, Professor Afolabi.