The organised labour has given the Federal Government up to Dec. 31
to send the tripartite committee report on N30,000 minimum wage to the
National Assembly.
to send the tripartite committee report on N30,000 minimum wage to the
National Assembly.
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| Labour leaders |
The decision was taken in Lagos on Thursday at a joint meeting of
three labour centres—the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union
Congress (TUC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC).
three labour centres—the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union
Congress (TUC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC).
The organised labour said the ultimatum followed President Muhammadu
Buhari’s statement that a “high powered technical committee” would be
set up to device ways of ensuring that the implementation of the new
wage did not lead to an increase in the level of borrowing.
Buhari’s statement that a “high powered technical committee” would be
set up to device ways of ensuring that the implementation of the new
wage did not lead to an increase in the level of borrowing.
Buhari spoke at the presentation of 2019 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly in Abuja on Wednesday.
The NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, who addressed newsmen after the
meeting, said that setting up a technical committee could not be a
condition for passing the minimum wage report to the National Assembly.
meeting, said that setting up a technical committee could not be a
condition for passing the minimum wage report to the National Assembly.
According to Wabba, the organised labour cannot guarantee industrial
peace and harmony in the country if the wage report was not passed for
implementation on or before Dec. 31.
peace and harmony in the country if the wage report was not passed for
implementation on or before Dec. 31.
“We reject in its entirety the plan to set up another `high powered
technical committee’ on the minimum wage. It is diversionary and a delay
tactics.
technical committee’ on the minimum wage. It is diversionary and a delay
tactics.
“The national minimum wage committee was both technical and
all-encompassing in its compositions and plan to set up a technical
committee is alien to the tripartite process.
all-encompassing in its compositions and plan to set up a technical
committee is alien to the tripartite process.
“It is also alien to the International Labour Organisations’ conventions on national minimum wage setting mechanism,’’ he said.
The labour leader said that issues on payment of minimum wage was a
law that was universal, citing that other African countries like, Kenya,
Ghana and South Africa had increased their minimum wage this year.
law that was universal, citing that other African countries like, Kenya,
Ghana and South Africa had increased their minimum wage this year.
“If you increase minimum wage, you are increasing the purchasing
power of the economy which will help to reduce inflation rather than
increase it,’’ Wabba said.
power of the economy which will help to reduce inflation rather than
increase it,’’ Wabba said.
He urged workers to be vigilant and prepare to campaign and vote
against candidates and politicians who are not willing to implement the
new minimum wage.
against candidates and politicians who are not willing to implement the
new minimum wage.
Mr Joe Ajaero, President of ULC, who also spoke on the development
said that all affiliate members of the organised labour had been put on
alert ahead of the Dec. 31 notice if government failed to submit the
report.
said that all affiliate members of the organised labour had been put on
alert ahead of the Dec. 31 notice if government failed to submit the
report.
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