The tripartite minimum wage negotiation meeting involving Organised Labour, the federal and state governments, and the Organized Private Sector (OPS) concluded yesterday in deadlock, as Labour dismissed the government’s N54,000 offer, as expected.
Labour leaders expressed disappointment over the absence of state governors at the meeting to present their offers, with their representatives claiming they had no mandate. However, it was gathered that the meeting will reconvene today at 4 pm.
Sources revealed that labour leaders insisted the Federal Government had not made a satisfactory offer and questioned the seriousness of the government’s approach. According to Labour representatives, the proposed N54,000 falls below the N77,000 salary currently earned by its workers.
Professor Theophilus Ndubuaku, a member of the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage, lamented the absence of the six governors representing the six geopolitical zones, emphasizing the importance of their presence in reaching a binding agreement.
Confirming the development, Professor Ndubuaku reiterated Labour’s May 31 deadline for concluding negotiations and stressed the need for governors’ attendance to ensure a fair and inclusive process.
Responding to the government’s offer, Labour representatives maintained that anything below N77,000 constitutes a wage reduction and reiterated their commitment to securing a living wage for workers. Labour had previously rejected the government’s proposals of N48,000 and N54,000 as insufficient to meet workers’ needs and aspirations.
In response to the deadlock, the Campaign for Workers Democratic Right called on Labour leaders to mobilize workers for sustained mass action to achieve a living wage and address anti-people capitalist policies. The group advocated for a protracted struggle anchored on mass mobilization to pressure the government into meeting workers’ demands.
