Emmanuel Ochayi
Organised labour in Nigeria has firmly rejected the federal government’s proposal for a new minimum wage of ₦62,000 or ₦100,000, describing it as insufficient for the average worker.
Chris Onyeka, Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), made the union’s stance clear in an interview on Channels Television on Monday.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“Our position is very clear. We have never considered accepting ₦62,000 or any other wage that we know is below what can sustain Nigerian workers,” Onyeka stated. “We will not negotiate a starvation wage.”
The NLC’s current demand stands at ₦250,000, a figure Onyeka insists is necessary to meet the basic needs of Nigerian workers. “We have never contemplated ₦100,000, let alone ₦62,000. We are still at ₦250,000. That is what we consider a fair concession to the government and other social partners. We are driven by the realities of the marketplace, the cost of rice, yam, garri, and other daily necessities,” he added.
The federal government was given a one-week deadline to review its proposal, which expires at midnight on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. If the government and the National Assembly fail to act on the workers’ demands by this deadline, organised labour has indicated it will resume nationwide industrial action.
READ ALSO: Minimum Wage: Negotiations To End Today As Labour Awaits Tinubu’s Approval
“The Federal Government and the National Assembly have the call now. It is not our call,” Onyeka emphasized. “Our demand is there for them to look at and send an Executive Bill to the National Assembly. If they don’t meet our demand, we will meet to decide our next steps.”
When questioned about labour’s response if the government insists on the ₦62,000 proposal, Onyeka was resolute. “We said we are relaxing a nationwide indefinite strike. If the organs that govern us as trade unions decide to remove that pause, it means we go back to the previous strike action.”
The dispute over minimum wage has been ongoing, with organised labour, including the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), embarking on a nationwide strike last Monday. They are demanding a new wage and the reversal of the recent electricity tariff hike. The current minimum wage of ₦30,000, they argue, is insufficient given the rising cost of living and inflation.
After a six-hour meeting between labour leaders and the National Assembly in Abuja last Monday night, the strike was suspended for five days. This suspension was contingent on the government’s commitment to resume negotiations and present a new minimum wage proposal within a week.
To expedite the talks, President Tinubu directed the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, to present the cost implications of a new minimum wage within two days. On Thursday, the finance minister, along with the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, presented these implications to the President at the Presidential Villa.
Despite these efforts, negotiations on Friday, June 7, 2024, failed to reach a consensus. Labour reduced its demand from ₦494,000 to ₦250,000, while the government increased its offer from ₦60,000 to ₦62,000. The final decision now rests with the President, who must send an executive bill to the National Assembly to establish a new minimum wage law.
Onyeka concluded by reiterating the labour union’s stance. “We are not driven by frivolities but by the need to ensure Nigerian workers can live decently. The ball is in the government’s court. We hope they will act in the interest of the workers who keep this country running.”
The outcome of these negotiations will be closely watched by millions of Nigerian workers and their families, who are hopeful for a significant improvement in their living standards.
Emmanuel Ochayi is a journalist. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos, School of first choice and the nations pride. Emmanuel is keen on exploring writing angles in different areas, including Business, climate change, politics, Education, and others.
