The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), on Monday, threatened to paralyze the activities of States if they fail to implement the new minimum wage if signed into law by the Federal Government.

The organised labour said it would mobilise workers across the country and shut down any state that refuse to comply with the new minimum wage.

The Chairman of the Ogun State Council of TUC, Akeem Lasisi made the threat while speaking with journalists in Abeokuta, shortly after monitoring the compliance of the indefinite strike embarked on by the organised labour in the state.

The strike paralysed commercial activities as courts, banks, government offices, public schools and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) were shut down.

Lasisi said it would be “fire-for-fire” for any state governor that refuses to implement the new minimum wage if signed into law by the Federal government.

Lasisi vowed that the labour would not back down nor shift ground on any of their positions until the Federal government yielded to its demands.

“Workers should not perish at the expense of the nation to develop, we are the ones that dictate the development of the nation, that is why we believe that workers should not be allowed to go into suffering and something urgent should be done to ensure workers in the country get their own benefits.

“For any state that refuses to pay the ongoing minimum wage, it will be fire-for-fire because it is backed by a law, it is a law and it must be obeyed by every citizen of the country. Note that labour is under exclusive list, whatever happens at the national bounce on everybody”, Lasisi said.

On his part, the state chairman of NLC, Hameed Benco vowed that the strike would continue until the Federal government agrees to their demands.

He urged the government to address the workers’ plight and also reverse the electricity tariff hike. (New Telegraph)