Jonathan had cut short an official trip to Lagos and rushed back to Abuja to meet with the labour leaders in his bid to avert the nationwide strike planned for today.
The government’s delegation to the talks included Vice-President Namadi Sambo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed; the Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye; the ministers of Finance and Labour, Mr. Olusegun Aganga and Emeka Wogu respectively; and the Minister of State for Information and Communications, Mr. Labaran Maku.
Among the labour leaders at the talks, which began at 8.30pm and ended at 10pm, were the Nigeria Labour Congress Acting President, Mr. Promise Adewusi; Secretary-General, Mr. John Odah; and TUC President, Mr. Peter Esele.
Sources at the meeting said Jonathan pleaded with the labour leaders to shelve the strike in the interest of Nigerians. He was said to have told the labour chiefs that the pleas by state governors and local government chairmen that they could not accommodate the new wage in their financial projections ought to be considered.
The President reportedly said he was committed to the implementation of the new wage and promised to fast-track the process before the next meeting of the National Council of State on November 25.
However, the NLC’s Acting Director of Information, Onah Iduh, told newsmen at the end of the meeting that labour leaders would meet at 3pm on Wednesday (today) to decide on the further course of action.
He said, “Jonathan said he did not have anythng against the strike but demanded that the protest by governors and local government chairmen be sorted out.”
A source close to the NLC, however, said the labour leaders may announce the suspension of the strike at the meeting.
Before Jonathan and the labour leaders began their meeting, the National Assembly pleaded with the NLC to reduce the strike from three to one day.
A delegation from the National Assembly, which visited the congress secretariat in Abuja, was received by Mr. Wilson Akeh.
The team, which was received by Adewusi, assured that the National Assembly would play its part in ensuring the minimum wage was paid to workers.
Our correspondents learnt that the state governors and the council chairmen had argued at the last NCS meeting that the payment of the minimum wage should be discriminatory.
The source made this known just as many banks, filling stations and markets witnessed high volume of customers, who did not want to be caught unprepared by the warning strike.
The organised leaders had after a meeting with the National Council of State sub-committee on the N18,000 minimum wage said the strike would go ahead as planned.
THE PUNCH also gathered from another labour leader that discussions between the government and labour on Monday ended in deadlock because Vice-President Namadi Sambo told them (union leaders) that the N18, 000 minimum wage was not “exactly an agreement,” but a recommendation.
“We believe that the statement by the Vice-President was suggestive of moves to embark on a downward review of the N18,000 wage,” the source said.
The official added that ‘aggrieved’ representatives of labour led by Mr. Promise Adewusi, and Mr. Isah Aremu, reminded Sambo that the N18, 000 was agreed after a year of negotiations between the Federal Government, state governors, the private sector and labour leaders.
According to him, the labour leaders also argued that the minimum wage had the force of agreement because the Justice Alfa Belgore Committee was duly constituted and funded by the government.
Iduh , who also spoke with one of our correspondents on Tuesday, said that nothing had changed in the arrangement put in place by labour to go on with the strike.
He said, “ Even if the government agrees to implement the minimum wage today (Tuesday), the strike cannot be called off. The committee entrusted with coordinating the strike and meeting with the Federal Government lacks the powers to call it off.
“Calling off the strike would necessitate calling a meeting of the National Executive of the NLC which is the only body that can take such a decision. That cannot happen today (Tuesday) because it is already too late. So the strike will definitely hold.”
In Lagos, aviation unions such as the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria; National Union of Air Transport Employees; National Cabin Crew Association ; National Association of Aeronautical Engineers, said it had directed its members to also proceed on strike today.
In a letter signed by Secretary General, ATSSSAN, Mr. Frank Aiyede, the unions said that the resolution was adopted at the central working committee of the Trade Union Congress.
The letter reads in part, “All workers are hereby directed to stay at home effective of 10/11/2010 to 12/11/2010 as warning to the government on the plight of Nigerian workers.”
Reports from Benin, Abeokuta, Akure and Ado- Ekiti showed on Tuesday that the Edo, Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti state chapters of the NLC were making last minute efforts to ensure the success of the strike.
In Ogun State , a notice from the NLC directed workers to embark on the strike. It was learnt that similar notices were sent to pubic schools in the state.
Residents of major towns in Ondo and Ekiti States also besieged commercial banks in the two states to withdraw money in anticipation of the strike.
Cashiers in the banks visited by one of our correspondents had difficulties coping with the large number of people making withdrawals.
The situation was the same at some filling stations, especially the NNPC mega stations and the retail outlets of major oil marketers in the two states as people engaged in panic buying for their vehicles and generators.
A circular issued by the Ondo State chapter of the NLC were pasted in strategic points at the state secretariat, Alagbaka, and its annexes in Owo-Ilesa by-pass.
In Edo State, customers also besieged the banks branches visited by one of our correspondents, to make withdrawals.
At the UBA branch on Akpakpava Street in Benin, a customer, Mr. Osayi Omorodion, said he did not want to take chances because of the strike.
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