Organized Labour has firmly stated it will not accept anything less than N100,000 as the minimum wage during its negotiations with the Federal Government, sources from the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) told Saturday PUNCH.
The unions criticized the government’s recent offer, describing the shift from N48,000 to N57,000 as insufficient and not reflective of a serious commitment to providing a living wage, as promised by President Bola Tinubu.
A national executive council meeting is scheduled for Monday in preparation for further discussions with the Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage on Wednesday. This follows the rejection of the Federal Government’s new proposal of N54,000 at the recent meeting.
Last week’s meeting saw Organized Labour walk out after the government proposed N48,000, which was then increased to N54,000 during Tuesday’s follow-up meeting. Labour, however, stood firm on their demand for a minimum of N100,000.
NLC President Joe Ajaero has maintained the demand for N615,000, based on an analysis of current economic conditions and the needs of an average Nigerian family. Despite reducing their demand to N497,000, the unions criticized the government’s and the Organized Private Sector’s (OPS) reluctance to make significant concessions.
“Even state governors did not show up, and their representatives, like those from Bauchi and Niger states, did not have the mandate to negotiate,” said a labour leader who asked to remain anonymous.
The unions stressed that the Federal Government and OPS need to present a reasonable offer for further negotiations. “Anything short of six figures will not guarantee industrial peace and harmony,” a senior labour leader warned, indicating potential strikes if demands are not met.
Organized Labour has also reiterated its May 31, 2024 deadline for implementing the new minimum wage.
In a statement released after a joint NEC meeting, NLC Financial Secretary Hakeem Ambali highlighted the substantial concessions made by Organized Labour, moving from an initial demand of N615,000 to N497,000.
“If the government and the OPS propose an offer of N100,000, we might consider it,” another senior labour leader suggested.
Meanwhile, discussions continue over the non-payment of the current N30,000 minimum wage by several states. Anambra State Government cited financial constraints for its non-compliance, while Kogi and Sokoto State Governments have stated that they are already paying the current minimum wage.
As negotiations proceed, the labour unions remain steadfast in their demands, urging the government to demonstrate a genuine commitment to improving the living conditions of Nigerian workers.
