LABOUR UNIONS BLAST FG, WALKS OUT OF MINIMUM WAGE NEGOTIATIONS
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The Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress labor unions have withdrawn from the current minimum wage talks with the government and the organized private sector.
The labor unions were incensed by the N48,000 national minimum wage proposal put forth by the Federal Government and deemed it absurd.
Joe Ajaero, the president of the NLC, clarified that the administration is not sincere in its attempts to negotiate a new minimum wage with labor.
He clarified that the FG lacks the information required to engage in negotiations with Labor.
Ajaero insisted that the government has until the end of the month to make a choice, and he added that Labour will make a decision once the ultimatum has passed.
Tommy Okon, the Deputy President, represented the Trade Union Congress during the meeting.
“The government’s proposal of a paltry N48,000 (forty-eight thousand Naira) as the minimum wage not only insults the sensibilities of Nigerian workers but also falls significantly short of meeting our needs and aspirations,” stated in part a joint statement signed by Ajaero and Okon following the meeting.
“In contrast the Organised Private Sector (OPS) proposed an initial offer of N54 ,000 (fifty-four thousand Naira) though it is worth noting that even the least paid workers in the private sector receives N78,000 (seventy-eight thousand Naira per month) as clearly stated by the OPS, highlighting the stark disparity between the proposed and prevailing standards further demonstrating the minimum wage unwillingness of Employers and Government to faithfully negotiate a fair National Minimum Wage for Workers in Nigeria.
“Furthermore, the Government’s failure to provide any substantiated data to support their offer exacerbates the situation. This lack of transparency and good faith undermines the credibility of the negotiation process and erodes trust between the parties involved.
“As representatives of Nigerian workers, we cannot in good conscience accept a wage proposal that would result in a reduction in income for federal-level workers who are already receiving N30,000 (thirty thousand Naira) as mandated by law, augmented by Buhari’s 40% Peculiar allowance (N12,000) and the N35,000 (thirty-five thousand Naira) wage award, totaling N77,000 (seventyseven thousand Naira) only.
“Such a regressive step would undermine the economic well-being of workers and their families and is unacceptable in a National Minimum Wage Fixing process.
The NLC and TUC had proposed that the Federal government should pay Nigerian workers N615,000 minimum wage, citing high cost of living as the yardstick for the proposal.
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