Labour begins 3-day warning strike over minimum wage.

The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress on Wednesday began a three-day nation-wide warning strike in protest against the failure of the Federal Government to implement the N18,000 minimum wage.The decision followed the deadlock in the Nov. 9 talks between the NLC's leadership and President Goodluck Jonathan on how to meet the workers’ demand.on Oct. 27, the National Executive Council of the NLC decided to proceed on the strike from Nov. 10 to Nov. 12.The NLC recalled that the joint government-labour-employer negotiating team, chaired by Justice Alfa Belgore, a former Chief Justice of the Federation, had finished its work on the minimum wage in April.The Labour and Civil Society Coalition on Wednesday urged the Lagos State Government to accede to the demands of striking medical doctors and lecturers of the state university.The coalition threatened to shut down the State Government secretariat and all its offices if it failed to address the demands of the workers.Its Secretary, Abioun Aremu told a rally at the NLC secretariat, Yaba, that Gov. Babatunde Fashola should negotiate with the workers instead of announcing 75 per cent increase for them.The coalition had called the rally in conjunction with the NLC to press home their demand for N18, 000 minimum wages.Aremu said a notice has been served to the Lagos State government to immediately meet the demands of the striking doctors and lecturers or face our wrath.On the N18, 000 minimum wages, Aremu urged the Federal Government to respect the agreement it reached with the labour since April.He said Wednesday’s warning strike was the sixth national strike called by the labour movement on minimum wage since the struggle for improved welfare for workers began in 1942.The first national strike on minimum wage was called by the late NLC President, Pa Michael Imodu in 1942 while the fifth was called in 2000 by the Adams Oshiomhole then NLC president and current Edo governor.Some of the placards displayed by the protesting workers read Fashola meet doctors’ demand; workers demand decent wages; build infrastructure, create jobs; Senators are well paid; arrest and prosecute looters.However the warning strike has been suspended.