- Threatens to Resume Strike on Tomorrow, Insists On N250,000
By Tolúlopé Olátúnjí
The Organised Labour comprising of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has rejected the proposed minimum wage of ₦62,000 offered by the Federal Government, issuing a stern warning that it will resume nationwide industrial action if the Federal Government and the National Assembly fail to address workers’ demands by Tuesday.
Reports monitored on Channels Television’s news interview with the Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Chris Onyeka, the NLC maintained that their leaders and all affiliate bodies are steadfast in their demand for a ₦250,000 minimum wage, which they consider a necessary living wage for Nigerian workers.
Onyeka stated :”Our position is very clear, we have never considered accepting ₦62,000 or any other wage that we know is below what we know is able to take Nigerian workers home. We will not negotiate a starvation wage.”
The New Diplomat had reported that the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage (NWM) which includes representatives from the Federal Government, Organized Private Sector, and Labour, had met last Friday. At the meeting, the Federal government and private sector proposed ₦62,000, while organized Labour insisted on ₦250,000, with the result that the negotiations ended in a deadlock.
Meanwhile,the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) also stated that any minimum wage higher than ₦60,000 was unsustainable.
However, labour leaders are currently attending a labour conference organized by the International Labour Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Onyeka noted that the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) would hold a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting to decide on the resumption of the strike based on the government’s response to their demands.
“The Federal Government and the National Assembly have the call now. It is not our call,” . “Our demand is there for them to look at and send an Executive Bill to the National Assembly, “ the NLC top official said
He added:”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.”
When asked about Labour’s response if the government insists on ₦62,000, Onyeka stated:” We said we are relaxing a nationwide indefinite strike. It’s like putting a pause on it. So, if you put a pause on something and that organs that govern us as trade unions decide that we should remove that pause, it means that we go back to what was in existence before.”
The current minimum wage of ₦30,000, which was established by the Minimum Wage Act of 2019, is considered inadequate by the Organized Labour, especially as not all governors are adhering to it. The Act mandates a review every five years, with the latest expiration in April 2024.
Initially, Labour had demanded a minimum wage of ₦615,000, and it later reduced its request to ₦497,000, and finally to ₦250,000 during negotiations. On the other hand, government proposals have ranged from ₦48,000 to ₦60,000, and most recently, ₦62,000, all of which have been rejected by Labour.
In a bid to resolve the impasse, President Bola Tinubu had expressed his commitment to a wage above ₦60,000 and directed further negotiations. This led to a temporary suspension of the strike last Tuesday, June 4, 2024, following a six-hour meeting between Labour leaders and the National Assembly. Despite resumed talks, no agreement was reached by Friday, June 7, 2024.
As the deadline looms, both sides have submitted their reports to Tinubu, who is expected to make a final decision soon.
