Organised labour has rejected the N48,000 proposed by the federal government as minimum wage for public service workers.
The government’s position was presented to labour at the resumed tripartite committee meeting on Wednesday, May 15.
In protest, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) walked out of the meeting which was held virtually.
A labour leader, who was part of the meeting, said the federal government was not serious about giving workers a living wage.
“What the government has presented to us is wage reduction. This government is not serious about giving workers a living wage,” the labour leader said.
Tinubu had on May Day promised workers a living wage, assuring them that their days of waiting for a living wage were over.
NLC and TUC proposed N615,000 as minimum wage, citing the high cost of living as the yardstick for the proposal.
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During Wednesday’s meeting, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), which had earlier declared that the least worker in the private sector was paid N78,000, presented N54,000 as the new minimum wage.
As of the time of filing this report, the NLC and TUC have called for an emergency press briefing to present the federal government’s proposal at the meeting to pay workers the minimum wage, and their next line of action.
President Tinubu, through Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on January 30, inaugurated the 37-member tripartite committee to come up with a new minimum wage.
With its membership cutting across federal, and state governments, the private sector, and organised labour, the panel is to recommend a new national minimum wage for the country.
Shettima, during the committee’s inauguration, urged the members to “speedily” arrive at a resolution and submit their reports early.
“This timely submission is crucial to ensure the emergence of a new minimum wage,” Shettima said.
He also urged collective bargaining in good faith, emphasising contract adherence and encouraging consultations outside the committee.
The 37-man committee is chaired by the former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Goni Aji.
Source: The Nation
