Labour Reportedly Rejects Government’s Excuse of Financial Constraints, Denounces New Minimum Wage Proposal
Organized labour unions have reportedly vehemently rejected the Nigerian government’s justification for proposing a new minimum wage of 57,000 naira, citing financial constraints.
The proposal was tabled during a meeting of the tripartite committee tasked with deliberating the new minimum wage. Initially set at 48,000 naira, the government revised the proposal upward, pointing to a shortage of funds as the primary reason for the adjustment.
Displeased with the government’s rationale, organized labour swiftly rebuffed both the proposed wage increase and the justification behind it. They deemed the government’s financial constraints argument as inadequate, describing it as an insult to the labour force.
Labour emphasized that during negotiations, they had already demonstrated flexibility by reducing their demand to 500,000 naira. They pointed out that recent economic policy changes, such as the removal of petrol subsidies and the floating of the national currency, have not been accompanied by concrete evidence indicating a lack of financial resources.
The labour leader said: “Government cannot be telling us that there is no money; this is an insult. We did not remove subsidies or float the national currency. The government created this problem. Since the removal of the petrol subsidy and floating of the naira, has the government shown proof that the country has no money, no?
“We are aware that the government gave members of the National Assembly no less than N160 million each to buy cars, the same government has released N90 billion to subsidise hajj operations.
‘’The government has renovated the Senate chambers, and the vice president’s office, and it is buying luxury buses for Customs in millions of naira.
‘’They are also buying all manner of SUVs for government officers. Since the removal of subsidies, the government has been making life better for political elites who have been feeding fat on workers.
Consequently, the tripartite committee adjourned the session until the following Tuesday, May 28, in hopes of further deliberation.
