15/05/2024
Labour Unions Walk Out Of Minimum Wage Negotiations, Blast FG
The unions said the N48,000 proposal from the Federal Government is ridiculous.
By Ignatius Igwe
Updated May 15, 2024
๏ฟผ
๏ฟผCombo of TUC President, Festus Osifo; and NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and President Bola Tinubu.
The labour unions comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress have walked out of the ongoing minimum wage negotiations with the government and the Organised Private Sector.
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Angered by the N48,000 proposal by the Federal Government as the national minimum wage, the labour unions described the offer as ridiculous.
READ ALSO: Labour Proposes Fresh N615,000 Minimum Wage Demand
The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, explained that the government is not serious about negotiating with the Labour on the new minimum wage.
He explained that the FG does not have the necessary data to negotiate with Labour.
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Ajaero maintained that Government have till the end of the month to arrive at a decision, adding that Labour will take a decision at the expiration of the ultimatum.
The Trade Union Congress was represented at the meeting by the Deputy President, Mr. Tommy Okon.
A joint statement signed by Ajaero and Okon after the meeting read in part, โThe Governmentโs proposal of a paltry N48,000 (forty-eight thousand Naira} as the Minimum Wage does not only insult the sensibilities of Nigerian workers but also falls significantly short of meeting our needs and aspirations.
โIn contrast the Organised Private Sector (OPS) proposed an initial offer of N54 ,000 (fifty-four thousand Naira) though it is worth noting that even the least paid workers in the private sector receives N78,000 (seventy-eight thousand Naira per month) as clearly stated by the OPS, highlighting the stark disparity between the proposed and prevailing standards further demonstrating the minimum wage unwillingness of Employers and Government to faithfully negotiate a fair National Minimu