As the battle for the appropriate new minimum wage rages on, the Federal Government on Wednesday, warned that organized labour’s refusal to accepts its offer might lead to mass sacking of workers.
This is even as the FG admonished organized Labour to consider the broader economic implications of its push for an unrealistic higher national minimum wage.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
Speaking of the stalemate between the Federal Government and Labour on the minimum war, the Minister, hinted that the N250,000 minimum wage demanded by labour could undermine the economy. He pointed that demand could also lead to mass retrenchment of workers and therefore, jeopardize the welfare of Nigerians.
In a related development, the organized labour unions have refuted President Bola Tinubu’s claims during his Democracy Day broadcast on Wednesday of an agreement with the unions.
Recall that President Tinubu had stated that an agreement had been reached on the new national minimum wage with labour.
But reacting to the President’s speech, the Acting President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Prince Adewale Adeyanju, denied any agreement.
According to him, as of the time negotiations ended on June 7, no agreement had been reached by the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage.
Recall that the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, is away in Geneva, Switzerland attending an International Labour Organization conference. Therefore, Adeyanu is acting in his stead.
Reading his speech on Wednesday, President Tinubu stated that his administration would soon submit an Executive Bill to the National Assembly to codify the agreements reached in the minimum wage negotiations between Labour, the Private Sector, the States and the Federal Government.
But organized labour has described the statement as misleading, noting that no agreement was reached as of June 7.
Recall that the Tripartite Committee had engaged in prolonged talks for weeks. With labour insisting on N250,000 minimum wage. While the Federal Government and the Organized Private Sector, OPS agreed to offerN62,000.
And while the battle rages, the State Governors stated their position. The Governors, through the Nigerian Governors Forum, said they would not be able to sustain any wage higher than N60,000.
Reacting on the N62, 000 offer, the labour unions said they would not negotiate what they described as ‘starvation wage.’
This was contained in a statement by the Assistant General Secretary of the NLC, Chris Onyeka. He said Labour would not accept the latest offer of N62,000.
Recall that before he travelled to Geneva, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the unionists were waiting on the President.
source: Punch
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