Declare 48-hour Nationwide Strike, Demand N200,000 Minimum Wage – CDWR Tells Labour

The CDWR has called on the NLC and TUC to mobilize for a 48-hour nationwide strike to demand a minimum wage of N200,000 and reverse recent anti-poor policies, criticizing labour leaders for their inaction.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) has urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to initiate a nationwide strike over the minimum wage and the recent electricity tariff hike.

The CDWR called for a 48-hour general strike and mass protest to demand a minimum wage of at least N200,000 and the reversal of anti-poor policies such as privatization, deregulation, subsidy removal, and electricity tariff hikes.

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Chinedu Bosah, CDWR’s National Publicity Secretary, highlighted that negotiations with the government and private sector over a new minimum wage have been stalled for over three weeks, with the current offer of N60,000 leading to an indefinite strike on June 3, 2024.

Despite its initial success, the strike was suspended on June 4, 2024, and many labour leaders traveled to Switzerland for International Labour Organisation (ILO) meetings, leaving no concrete action plan in place.

Bosah criticized the labour leaders for suspending actions without proper planning, leading to lost momentum in the struggle. He emphasized the urgent need for the labour movement to pressure the government and private sector to grant a living wage and resist all anti-people policies.

The current economic hardships, including a 33.95% inflation rate and soaring living costs, necessitate immediate action.

The CDWR also highlighted the disparity between the lavish lifestyle of politicians and the poor wages of workers. It called for a continuous struggle to ensure wages are adjusted in line with inflation and the cost of living.

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Moreover, the CDWR emphasized the need for the labour movement to build a pan-Nigerian democratic and working people’s political party on a socialist programme to challenge the capitalist ruling elite and plan the economy for the benefit of the majority.

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