Confusion As Labour Rejects Tinubu’s Claims Of Agreement Pn Minimum Wage

Confusion As Labour Rejects Tinubu’s Claims Of Agreement Pn Minimum Wage

Stable Power • Relief will not come only from increase in wages, FG tells Labour

By Oshiobugie John

The Organised Labour has categorically rejected President Bola Tinubu’s assertion that an agreement was reached on a new national minimum wage in his Democracy Day address.

Labour representatives clarified that as of the conclusion of negotiations on June 7, the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage had not reached any agreement. Instead, two figures were proposed: N250,000 by Labour and N62,000 by the government and the Organised Private Sector (OPS), which were meant to be submitted to the President.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has urged Labour to be realistic in their demands for a new minimum wage, stating that the relief Nigerians seek will not come solely from wage increases but from various other government initiatives.

In a statement by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Acting President, Prince Adewale Adeyanju, Labour emphasized that any contrary claims are unfounded and unacceptable.

Reacting to the President’s speech, Adeyanju said: “The NLC attentively listened to the Democracy Day presidential address delivered by Senator Bola Tinubu, especially concerning the ongoing National Minimum Wage negotiations. While the President may have accurately recounted parts of our democratic journey’s history, it is evident that he has been misinformed regarding the outcome of the wage negotiation process.

“We appreciate the President’s commitment to democratic ideals, allowing the work of the Tripartite National Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee to proceed unhindered despite some hiccups. However, we expected Mr. President to harmonize the two figures submitted to him in favor of workers and the masses. This would have been a fitting Democracy Day gift.

“The NLC expected the President’s advisers to inform him that no agreement was reached with the Federal Government and employers on a base figure for a National Minimum Wage. Our demand remains N250,000, and we see no compelling reason to change this position, which we consider a significant concession by Nigerian workers during the tripartite negotiation process.

“We are therefore surprised by the President’s statement about a supposed agreement. We believe he may have been misled. There was no agreement with the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). We must clarify this immediately to avoid confusion in the ongoing national minimum wage conversation. We have not seen the document submitted to him and will not accept any doctored version.

“We reaffirm our belief that the President, who currently holds the Tripartite Committee’s report, will prepare an Executive Bill reflecting the true demands of Nigerian workers. This is an opportunity for him to demonstrate his commitment to Nigerian workers and the masses by disregarding advice from those whose intentions harm the poor and struggling workers. The President should not allow these individuals to undermine his promise of lifting Nigerian workers out of poverty.

“Advisers have not informed the President that trade union leaders were intimidated and harassed. The President must understand that we faced threats, possibly without his knowledge. Media propaganda and armed soldiers surrounded us during negotiations, and despite denials, recent statements by government officials confirm our fears. However, we trust that the President’s democratic credentials will favor Nigerian workers and masses.

“It is also important for the President to know that his officers are working to undermine the leadership of Congress and trade unions. We never agreed on a 5-year duration for the Minimum Wage Act, though the President mentioned it. We also agreed that inflation should be pegged at a level for an agreed amount to be the minimum wage, to bring clarity to the report.”

FG to Labour: Relief will not come only from an increase in wages

Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris, speaking at the 2024 Synod of the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria in Abuja, said: “The Federal Government is committed to reviewing the minimum wage realistically and sustainably.

“The FG is not opposed to wage increases for Nigerian workers but advocates for a realistic and sustainable wage system that will not undermine the economy, lead to mass retrenchment, and jeopardize the welfare of about 200 million Nigerians.

“Labour should understand that the relief Nigerians expect will not come only from wage increases but also from efforts to reduce the cost of living and ensure more money stays in their pockets. Programs like the Presidential CNG initiative, which aims to reduce transportation costs by up to 50% by replacing or complementing petrol usage with CNG, are part of these efforts.”