Labour leaders fix emergency meeting on N30,000 minimum wage, send warning to Tinubu, govs

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) are set to hold an emergency meeting in order to come up with a strong position on the suspension of the payment of the wage award to civil servants.

The organized labour has also sent a note of warning to the federal and state governments to prepare for the payment of the N30,000 minimum wage as no excuses would be permitted.

The organized labour also warned state governors that they would have “no choice” but to pay the minimum wage once it is signed into law next year.

The Federal Government on its part has budgeted the sum of N1 trillion for minimum wage adjustments, promotion arrears and severance benefits for civil servants in its Ministries, Departments and Agencies, analysis of the 2024 appropriation budget released by the Budget Office of the Federation revealed.

However, it has been observed that the state governments have largely remained silent on the new minimum wage for their workers despite the escalating cost of living nationwide.

The Deputy President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, said the body might resolve to embark on a prolonged industrial action during its next national executive council meeting.

“At the last TUC NEC meeting, we called the government’s attention to the fact that stopping the payment of the wage award is not in the best interest of the government, because it is a recipe for industrial action; so, that alone is a signal,” Etim said.

“However, the government has not also invited us to tell us why they have not paid; so, we are waiting; if by the end of this month of December they have not paid, I can assure you that at the next meeting of NEC, there will be a resolution for an industrial action.

“Until the budget passes through the National Assembly and is enacted before Mr President assents to it. If it is assented to, there will be a supplementary budget to that effect (new minimum wage), so that is not an issue. When you look at the current inflation rate of about 28.2 per cent, no benchmark as of today can survive. So, it is not going to be based on a mere pronouncement of N500, 000 for instance.

“The negotiation for a new minimum wage will be based on socio-economic realities. That is what we are going to take to the table. We are going to look at all indices that a worker needs. The housing, transportation, and all these components will form the basis of our discussion and negotiation. So, it is not going to be on a round figure basis. The current minimum wage will be determined by the current prices of items,” he told Punch.

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When asked about states that have failed to factor in adjustments for the new minimum wage in their budgets, the Head of Information of the NLC, Benson Upah, said, “Once the law is passed, they will be under obligation to comply with it. How they fund it will be up to them. At least they have the window of supplementary appropriation.”