Labour Sets Sights on About N100,000 Minimum Wage Ahead of NEC Meeting on Monday
Organized Labour has taken a resolute stance, asserting that it will not settle for anything less than a minimum wage of less than N100,000, as negotiations with the Federal Government intensify.
It was gathered Trade Union Congress and Nigeria Labour Congress emphasized that Labour expects nothing short of a six-digit figure from both the Federal Government and the organized private sector.
In preparation for further discussions, Labour disclosed plans for a national executive council meeting on Monday, preceding a meeting with the Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage scheduled for Wednesday.
The ongoing negotiations faced an adjournment until Wednesday after Organised Labour rejected the latest proposal of N54,000 minimum wage put forward by the Federal Government.
Hakeem Ambali, the Financial Secretary of the NLC, highlighted Labour’s significant shift in position, underscoring the need for the Federal Government and other partners to reciprocate with substantial adjustments in their offers to meet Labour’s expectations. He reiterated Labour’s stance, asserting that any approval falling short of six digits would not be acceptable.
“When you look at the percentage of ground shifting by Organised Labour, you can see that it is very substantial. The FG’s shifting is still very meagre. We are looking for the FG to reason and fulfil its promise of paying a living wage to Nigerian workers. That is their position.”
“The meeting is adjourned till Tuesday next week. Our position is N497,000. We are watching the FG and other partners in the collective bargain to shift ground. It is now their turn to shift ground substantially and not the piecemeal figure that is being given. That is not what labour is expecting. Any approval that is not up to six digits is nothing to consider by labour,” he said.
