President Bola Tinubu will address the nation in a broadcast on Wednesday, June 12, to commemorate the 2024 Democracy Day amidst the fresh threat of a nationwide strike by Nigerian workers over economic hardship and the government’s refusal to accept a new minimum wage proposed by organised labour.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, urged television, radio, and other electronic media outlets to join the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) at 7.00 a.m. for the broadcast.
Tinubu, who assumed office on May 29, 2023, has faced backlash from labour unions after fulfilling his campaign promise to end the costly fuel subsidy programme which was draining the government’s coffers by about $10bn annually.
The move sparked a sudden surge in fuel prices, prompting the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to call for a nationwide strike and protests.
Although the most recent strike was suspended for a week on June 4 to allow for negotiations, the labour unions have threatened to resume the industrial action if their demands for a substantial increase in the national minimum wage are not met by midnight on June 11, 2024.
During the last meeting of the Tripartite Committee on New Minimum Wage on Friday, labour representatives reduced their demand from N494,000 to N250,000, while the government increased its offer from N60,000 to N62,000 ($136), with a promise to present the figure to President Tinubu for further consideration.
THE WHISTLER reports that Tinubu’s 2024 Democracy Day address is coming at a critical juncture as the nation grapples with economic hardships exacerbated by the fuel subsidy removal and the ongoing labour dispute over new wage demands.
The president took office amid high expectations for economic reforms.
Amid Labour Unrest, Tinubu Delivers 2nd Democracy Day Address Wednesday is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
