Organised Labour has on Tuesday rejected the N54,000 proposed by the Federal government as new minimum wage.
Recall that Organised Labour comprising of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, walked out on the Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage following the proposed N48,000 as minimum wage by the Federal Government.
Last week Organised Labour told FG to perish any thought of offering N100,000 as the new minimum wage.
It also asked the government to be serious with negotiations on the issue of workers’ wages, insisting that it used the lowest minimum in arriving at N615,000 as the new minimum wage.
This adjustment demonstrates the government’s willingness to address the concerns of the Organised Labour and work towards a fair and sustainable minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
However, in a fresh negotiations on Tuesday on the new minimum wage, the organised labour rejected the new N54,000 minimum wage proposal by the Federal Government.
The meeting held on Tuesday was a direct response to the walkout staged by members of the organised labour. This walkout occurred due to the Federal Government’s proposal of N48,000 as the minimum wage during last week’s meeting.
The subsequent meeting was convened to address the concerns raised by the organised labour and find a resolution that ensures a fair and reasonable minimum wage for all workers.
During that meeting, the OPS had also proposed N54,000 while labour insisted on its N615,000 living wage demand.
Sources who attended the follow-up meeting on Tuesday learnt that the Federal Government upped its offer from N48,000 to N54,000.
“Well, during the meeting, the government increased its offer from N48,000 to N54,000. However, labour rejected that offer and the meeting has been adjourned till Wednesday,” a source who asked not to be named said.
When asked if the government’s side was showing any sign of seriousness, the labour leader said, “No seriousness at all. Even state governors did not show up. Those who represented them, like Bauchi and Niger states, did not have the mandates to speak on their behalf.
“As regards the private sector, we did not get to them before the meeting was adjourned but we hope they also increase their initial offer.”
Organised labour on Monday reiterated its May 31, 2024 deadline for the implementation of the new minimum wage.
The National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, insisted on N615,000 minimum wage, arguing that the amount was arrived at after an analysis of the current economic situation and the needs of an average Nigerian family of six.
Additional Details from Punch
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