Nigeria’s organised labour began preparation for a nationwide strike over Federal Government delay in the implementation of a new national Minimum Wage.

Mr Joe Ajaero, President, United Labour Congress (ULC) said in a communique issued after its meeting on Monday in Lagos.

Organised labour, made up of NLC, TUC and ULC had on Sept. 12 issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government to state an amount to enable the minimum wage committee conclude its sitting.

Labour had collectively demanded for N65,000 per month as the National Minimum wage for all Nigerian.

Ajaero said that if the government failed to meet their demand on the expiration of the ultimatum, it would collaborate with other labour centres and Civil Society Organisations to embark on a nationwide strike.

”We shall no longer be obliged by this time to give any further notice to the government before embarking on the action.

”By this communiqué we order all our affiliates and state councils nationwide to move to the final level of alert in their preparation for the proposed nationwide strike,” he said.

The labour leader said that a new national minimum wage was desirable and possible, adding that lack of patriotism, greed and corruption was the bane of a reasonable wage.

Meanwhile, Central Working Committee (CWC) of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has empowered National Administrative Council (NAC) and its leadership to carry out all necessary actions in conjunction with other stakeholders to ensure the achievement of the minimum wage.

NAN