Leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu has advised organised labour to boycott the 2019 general elections if they want to get a new national minimum wage.
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Nnamdi Kanu said refusing to vote in next year’s elections is the only way the federal government would take the workers seriously.
Organised labour led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have been on a warpath with the State and Federal Governments regarding the minimum wage which currently stands at N18,000.
The workers lowered their demand from N65,000 to N30,000 which the state governors are opposed to saying they cannot afford to pay more than N22,500.
Based on the stalemate in negotiations between government and organised labour, the latter resolved to go on an indefinite strike on Tuesday November 6 boycotting several meetings called by the Federal Government for further negotiations.
In his words during a radio broadcast from Israel, Nnamdi Kanu said;
“Nigerian workers are on a minimum wage of N18,000 per month which is roughly $48 equivalent. Recently they have been begging the government to increase it to N30, 000 about $85 per month.
So, far the government has refused. This demand can be met with minimal fuss before presidential elections of next year if the workers remain resolute and determined not to vote.
We call on all labour unions in Nigeria to join IPOB in election boycott campaign.”
Nnamdi Kanu has been making frequent broadcasts from his new base in Israel even as the Israeli Government continues to deny knowledge of his presence in the country.