Strike suspension: National Assembly gates finally reopened

The gates of the National Assembly complex have been reopened by parliamentary workers, allowing lawmakers, staff, and visitors to access the premises.

The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) had initially locked the gates on Monday in solidarity with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), who called a strike to demand a new minimum wage for workers in the country.

However, following the suspension of the strike by the NLC and TUC for one week to allow for further negotiation with the Federal Government, PASAN reopened the gates on Tuesday afternoon.

According to reports, the Federal Government had agreed to pay a higher amount than the initial offer of N60,000, which was rejected by the unions. The NLC and TUC had demanded a national minimum wage of N494,000 per month.

The government expressed concerns that the proposed amount would hinder its ability to fund critical sectors of the economy, such as education, defense, and healthcare.

After a six-hour meeting with the leadership of organized labor in Abuja on Monday night, the Federal Government committed to raising the minimum wage offer. The agreement stated:

“The President of Nigeria, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, is committed to establishing a National Minimum Wage higher than N60,000; and the Tripartite Committee will convene daily for the next week to finalize an agreeable National Minimum Wage.”

The organized labor also agreed to “immediately hold meetings of its organs to consider this new offer, and no worker would face victimization as a consequence of participating in the industrial action.”

The resolutions were signed on behalf of the Federal Government by Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.