While most of the key labour union representatives in Nigeria fly out to attend the International Labour Organisation’s 112th annual conference happening in Geneva, Switzerland right now, the clock ticks as the deadline they earlier set to round off minimum wage negotiations with the government comes to an end Tuesday midnight.

Last week, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) declared an indefinite nationwide strike that shut down airport activities and muted household electricity supply. In 24 hours, the unions are to decide if they will resume their relaxed strike or keep things calm for the long run.

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Of course that would depend on what President Bola Tinubu communicates to the National Assembly as the new national minimum wage. Will it be ₦62,000 that a tripartite committee comprising the federal government, the states and organised private sector proposed late Friday evening or the ₦250,000 the unions counterdemand?

No matter where the pendulum swings, there is increased support for the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress by more Nigerians. All they are waiting for is the direction that the unions want to go.

We have submitted the report to the president and we are waiting for him to make his decision, says an NLC official who spoke to Punch Newspaper and was not named.

As soon as comrades make their return to Nigeria after the International Labour Organisation conference ending on Friday, 14 June, there will be a National Executive Council meeting involving all the key people.

The labour unions are wary of inviting unnecessary hostile reactions about their future choices, so there is careful planning going on within their ranks.

Before we can even hold a NEC meeting, says the NLC official who was not named, we must come back from Geneva first. Also, we are trying to be careful so the government won’t say Labour is inciting citizens against the government. Also, you know they are in charge of the military so we are trying to be careful about that. This is why we are waiting.

As soon as the day broke on Monday, 3 June 2024, air travel passengers found themselves stranded and unable to reach their destinations because aviation workers under union leadership decided to ditch their duties for the day.

That move left a sour taste in the mouths of the government, hence a plea that the NLC resume negotiations with them given a better offer they plan to make imminently.

Optics show no better offer has been made by the tripartite committee in the NLC’s mind. Any minimum wage proposal that does not take care of a worker’s needs amid present economic challenges is not a good one for the NLC and this is why they will most likely go on strike again if they have to.

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When they go on strike, they will be doing so with the support of tired revolutionaries who want meaningful change. They do not mind the cost in the form of electricity supply that will no longer be forthcoming should the unions resume industrial action.

Hakuna Matata commenting on an X video of an NLC official thinks the relaxed strike can resume quickly enough because he is eager. The tweet asks: What are you guys waiting for, press the next strike button immediately.

It seems that the populace are beginning to have faith in labour once again so please don’t disappoint Nigerians. Anything less than 150k is unacceptable, Rhoda Omogiate writes.

At the same time that some members of the public are feeling assured about labour’s plans to sustain their demand for better wages around the ₦250,000 range, one side wants the union to take a less severe route that doesn’t dislocate air traffic and electricity once again.