Segun Ajayi-Kadir, mni Discusses NLC Strike and Economic Challenges | Sunrise Daily | Channels TV

On Saturday, June 1st, 2024, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, mni, Director General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), appeared on Sunrise Daily on Channels TV to discuss the Nigerian Labour Congress strike action. He emphasized the difficulty of negotiating a minimum wage in the current economic climate.
"We've reached a critical stage where we must work together," Ajayi-Kadir stated. "The government, private sector, and labor union all face significant challenges. The government has limited capacity to pay, the private sector is constrained by various challenges, and labour is under pressure to demand higher wages due to high inflation. We've consistently maintained that this is not the ideal time to negotiate a minimum wage. Instead, we should focus on growing the economy and creating a bigger cake to share."
He stressed that a nationwide strike would only hinder economic development, urging all parties to remain at the negotiating table. "Instead of walking away, we should remain at the negotiating table to address labour's expectations. We're all employers in this country, and we can't afford to cripple the economy. Declaring a strike won't solve the problem."