Organised Labour Rejects Minimal Increase to Proposed N60,000 Minimum Wage
Organised labour has firmly rejected any minor additions to the N60,000 minimum wage proposed by the federal government,Daily Trust reports.
On Monday, labour leaders and the federal government’s team agreed on a new minimum wage that would be “above N60,000.” However, in an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Trade Union Congress (TUC) President Festus Osifo clarified that organised labour is not demanding N494,000 but insists on a substantial and realistic amount.
When pressed for specifics, Osifo emphasized the need for the tripartite committee to present an offer that aligns with current inflationary pressures. He stated, “We also told them that it is not acceptable to add N1, N2, or N3,000 as they were doing. We received assurances that they would propose something substantial.”
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Osifo stressed that the new minimum wage must have the same purchasing power as N30,000 did in 2019 and N18,000 in 2014.
Organised labour had launched an indefinite strike on Monday due to the government’s refusal to exceed the N60,000 proposal. However, this strike was “relaxed” for one week following an extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and TUC.
NLC President Explains One-Week Strike Suspension
NLC President Joe Ajaero, reading from the NEC meeting communique, explained the one-week suspension of the strike was to give the federal government time to commit to a concrete and acceptable national minimum wage. The government is also expected to take definitive steps to revert the electricity tariff hike to N66/kWh and abolish the discriminatory classification of electricity consumers into bands.
Ajaero mandated all affiliate unions and state councils to resume work immediately, emphasizing that the decision followed President Tinubu’s commitment to raising the new minimum wage above N60,000.
Regarding the agreement reached on Monday, Ajaero expressed disappointment with the government’s lack of action on reversing the electricity tariff hike and abolishing the discriminatory consumer classification, stressing these issues must be addressed alongside the wage increase.
President Tinubu Orders New Minimum Wage Cost Implications
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has instructed Finance Minister Wale Edun to present the cost implications of a new minimum wage within two days. This directive was issued during a meeting with the federal government’s negotiation team at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced that parties would collaborate to present a new, sustainable, and realistic wage within one week.
Idris added that the president directed all negotiating representatives, including those from the private sector and state governments, to develop an affordable and sustainable wage proposal. He reiterated the administration’s commitment to adopting the committee’s resolutions with labour.
Senate Criticizes Labour for Shutting Down Power Grid
On Tuesday, the Senate criticized labour unions for shutting down the national power grid during Monday’s strike, describing it as economic sabotage. The strike disrupted economic activities nationwide, including the closure of banks, schools, hospitals, and government offices.
During its plenary, the Senate resolved to pass an executive bill preventing such actions in the future, to be included in the new national minimum wage Act. This decision followed a motion by Senator Diket Plang (APC, Plateau Central), who urged the federal government to expedite action on the new minimum wage to prevent industrial unrest.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio condemned the “excesses” of some labour unionists, highlighting the shutdown of the national grid, disruption of Hajj flights, and interference with students’ WAEC examinations as unacceptable actions. He stressed that such activities must not be repeated and will be addressed in the forthcoming National Minimum Wage Bill.
