Negotiations between Organised Labour and the Federal Government have intensified, with labour insisting on a minimum wage of no less than N100,000, according to sources from both the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Several sources within the unions expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s current offer, highlighting that anything less than a six-digit figure would not be acceptable. They criticized the government’s perceived lack of seriousness in the negotiations, stating that the recent increase from N48,000 to N57,000 was insufficient.
Labour representatives emphasized that President Bola Tinubu had promised a living wage, yet the proposed N57,000 fell short of this commitment. As preparations escalate for a meeting with the Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage, scheduled for Wednesday, the unions are gearing up for a national executive council meeting on Monday to strategize.
The ongoing negotiations have seen ups and downs, with Organised Labour rejecting the Federal Government’s previous proposal of N54,000. Despite earnest efforts, the breakdown in negotiations has been attributed to what labour perceives as unreasonable actions from both the government and the Organised Private Sector (OPS).
Labour leaders are standing firm on their demand for a minimum wage of N497,000, arguing that this figure reflects the economic realities and needs of Nigerian families. They reiterated their deadline of May 31, 2024, for the implementation of the new minimum wage.
Financial Secretary of the NLC, Hakeem Ambali, emphasized the substantial ground shifting by Organised Labour, moving from N615,000 to N497,000. He urged the government to fulfill its promise of a living wage and called for substantial adjustments in their offer.
Meanwhile, a senior labour leader hinted that if the Federal Government and the OPS propose an offer of N100,000, Organised Labour might consider it. However, the sentiment among labour leaders is clear: anything short of a six-figure minimum wage would be rejected.
In response to states yet to implement the old minimum wage of N30,000, the NLC spokesman, Ben Upah, listed Kogi, Zamfara, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Sokoto as non-compliant. However, the Kogi State NLC chairman clarified that Kogi had been paying the minimum wage since 2022.
The Anambra State Government cited financial constraints for its inability to comply with the N30,000 minimum wage, but efforts are underway to address the issue.
