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MINIMUM WAGE: FG VS LABOUR – IT’S 24 HOURS TO D-DAY
Chris Onyeka, Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has announced that the Federal Government has only 24 hours to address the lingering issues affecting workers.
In a report by Channels Television, Onyeka stated that the one-week notice given to the government expires tomorrow, Tuesday. If the government fails to meet their demands, organised labour will convene an emergency meeting to decide on the next course of action.
He urged the federal government to desist from figures like N62,000 or N100,000, pointing out that it is a starvation wage. He expressed the view that they’re only doing what is right and that they’re not in any way sabotaging the government.
According to him, “If that does not meet our demand, we have given the Federal Government a one-week notice to look at the issues, and that one week expires tomorrow (Tuesday).
“If after tomorrow, we have not seen any tangible response from the government, the organs of the Organised Labour will meet to decide on what next.”
During recent meetings of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage, labour union delegates advocated for a ₦250,000 minimum wage.
In contrast, the federal government and the organised private sector have proposed a wage of ₦62,000. The Nigeria Governors Forum has deemed any salary above ₦60,000 as unsustainable.
Labour leaders, including NLC President Joe Ajaero, who is currently attending a labour convention in Geneva, Switzerland, organised by the International Labour Organisation, are awaiting the president’s decision on the committee’s recommendations. Following their return, the National Executive Council (NEC) will convene to deliberate on the president’s response and determine their next steps.
A senior NLC official underscored the critical nature of the president’s decision, cautioning against actions that could turn the public against the government. The NEC meeting can only be scheduled after the leaders return from Geneva.
Previously, Organised Labour had called for a new minimum wage and the cancellation of increases in electricity tariffs during a two-day nationwide strike. The strike was temporarily suspended after labour leaders and the federal government agreed to initiate negotiations and establish a new minimum wage agreement within a week.
President Tinubu has tasked the minister of finance with reporting back on the estimated costs of raising the minimum wage. He also emphasized the importance of collaboration between government officials, businesses, and subnational organisations to set a fair wage for Nigerians.
Currently, the president is reviewing the proposal and is expected to announce his decision on the contentious minimum wage issue soon, following the finance minister’s briefing on the associated costs.
