Organised labour has rejected the N48,000 proposed by the federal government as minimum wage for public service workers.
On Wednesday, May 15, during the reconvened tripartite committee meeting, the government presented its position to labor.
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) left the virtual conference in protest.
Attending the discussion, a labor leader expressed doubts about the federal government’s commitment to providing workers with a decent 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.
On May Day, Tinubu gave workers a living wage promise, promising to end their wait for a living wage.
NLC and TUC suggested a minimum salary of N615,000, using the high cost of living as their benchmark.
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), which had earlier stated that the lowest paid worker in the private sector was paid N78,000, proposed N54,000 as the new minimum wage during the meeting on Wednesday.
As of the time this story was filed, the TUC and NLC have requested an urgent press briefing to outline their next course of action and to convey the federal government’s proposal to pay workers the minimum wage at the meeting.
On January 30, Vice President Kashim Shettima, on behalf of President Tinubu, 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.
