Nigeria heading for another nationwide strike as FG, labour leaders bicker

macfranc007 October 17, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 Jerrywright Ukwu

- The organised labour might resume their strike over the new minimum wage

- Labour leaders have accused the federal government of double standard on the issue

- They also accused the government of derailing the processes needed to promulgate a new national minimum wage

Labour leaders in Nigeria have warned that it would not guarantee industrial peace any longer if federal government continues to play double standard on the new minimum wage.

Reacting to claims by the minister of labour and employment, Dr Chris Ngige, that the tripartite committee on the new national minimum wage was yet to agree on a figure as it is still negotiating with with the unions, but the labour leaders said the minister was being economical with the truth.

A joint statement by the NLC president, Ayuba Wabba, the TUC president, Bobboi Bala Kaigama, and the ULC president, Joe Ajaero, stated that the committee arrived at a figure which is to be presented to the president.

The labour leaders said the sub committee on figure chaired by the minister presented four different figures, which the committee deliberated on for several hours before agreeing on a figure.

Part of the statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to the minister of labour and employment, Senator Chris Ngige, claiming that no amount has been agreed by the tripartite committee recommendation to government. The report further claimed that the minister said that government was still negotiating with labour.

“It is rather unfortunate and sad if indeed the minister made those statements. For the avoidance of doubt, organised labour representatives wish to state unequivocally that the tripartite committee concluded its work, adopted a figure through a formal motion moved, seconded and adopted in the absence of any counter motion.

“This was after a thorough debate of a report from the subcommittee figure, chaired by Senator Ngige himself which presented four scenarios for consideration.”

The statement noted that the subcommittee worked on the basis of a figure proposed by the federal government, figures proposed by a number of state governments, as well as proposals submitted by the organised private sector and organised labour.

According to the labour leaders, the committee formally adjourned its sitting with a decision that a date will be communicated to members for the signing of the report and submission of same to Mr President.

“Organised labour therefore frowns at the manipulation and bending of facts in an attempt to delay or derail the processes needed to promulgate a new national minimum wage.

“We call on the government to take immediate necessary steps to ensure the enactment of a new national minimum wage as we cannot guarantee industrial peace and harmony,” the statement added.

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A labour leader, Mr Joe Ajaero, on Tuesday, October 16, had said that the organised labour would never sign any agreement with the federal government on new national minimum wage which is less than N30, 000.

“N24, 000 can never be the new minimum wage for workers. If the government pays it, then it is an award,” Ajaero, president, United Labour Congress (ULC), said.

He further said that the tripartite committee agreed that N30, 000 would be paid at the end of its negotiation as the new minimum wage for workers.

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