- Joe Ajaero, Festus Osifo Are Statutory Delegates
- International Coalition Ask Minister to Resign Immediately
By Abiola Olawale
The Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has come under heavy criticism and calls for sack following her decision to lead a 289-member delegation to the ongoing 112th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Minister has been heavily criticised for leading such a long list of delegates at a time when Nigeria is experiencing severe economic challenges with economic crisis escalating across the country.
The New Diplomat reports that Nigeria, with a 289-member delegation, has the highest number of delegates to the 112th ILC in comparison to all other participating countries.
A breakdown of the list published by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), revealed that out of the total 289 delegates, Onyejeocha listed 108 individuals as “government delegates,” with an additional two persons accompanying her to the 112th ILC in Geneva.
Also, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, and the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo were among the delegates Nigeria sent to the ILO.
62 out of the 289 delegates are identified as “employers’ delegates,” while 116 people registered as “worker’s delegates.” The total number of Nigerian contingent at a time of troubling economic woes stood at 289-member delegates. Economic analysts insist that “ the minister is most tactless, wicked and has very poor sense of judgement as she could lead a delegation of 289, regardless of whatever name you call them because they all drain foreign exchange and spend dollars in Geneva.”
Further breakdown of the list also revealed that Brazil is second behind Nigeria with 191 delegates, followed by Argentina with 156 representatives.
The development has been generating massive backlash as an international coalition has demanded the immediate resignation of Onyejeocha.
The coalition expressed disapproval of the Labour Minister’s decision to pursue such action that could place a burden on government expenditure.
The coalition wondered why the Minister agreed to lead such a high number to a foreign trip at a time when Nigeria should be cutting costs of governance.
The New Diplomat reports that this comes as organised labour is still yet to reach a consensus on a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
Although the tripartite committee on minimum wage has submitted its report, it appears that the Federal Government and organised labour are yet to reach a consensus on the new minimum wage.
While President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his Democracy Day address, on Wednesday had stated that an agreement had been reached on the new national minimum wage, the unions had come out to refute the claim.
Acting President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Prince Adewale Adeyanju, said as of the time negotiations ended on June 7, no agreement had been reached by the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage.
It would be recalled that on Friday, June 7, 2024, the two sides (labour and the government) failed to reach an agreement. While labour dropped again its demand from ₦494,000 to ₦250,000, the government added ₦2,000 to its initial ₦60,000 and offered workers ₦62,000.
The 112th ILC, which would close on June 14, is aimed at focusing on pressing issues such as the protection of workers from the effects of climate change and biological hazards, the economy, and fundamental principles and rights at work. The conference will also elect the governing body that will lead the ILO from 2024 to 2027.
The Conference is composed of a plenary and technical committees. The Conference opens and closes in plenary sitting; during intermediate plenary sittings, all delegates may participate in the discussion of the Reports of the Chairperson of the Governing Body and the Director-General.
The plenary also performs administrative and formal tasks for the Conference and may hold sittings to receive distinguished guests, including Heads of State or Government.
