*No worker would be victimized as a result of the industrial action
WorldStage Newsonline– In view of the ongoing nationwide strike embarked upon by the organised labour, the Federal Government of Nigeria has declared that President Bola Tinubu is committed to a national minimum wage above N60,000.
Many businesses, airports, universities, hospitals and power supply were affected as Labour began an indefinite strike on Monday over their demand for a new minimum wage.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, announced after a marathon meeting with labour leaders in Abuja late Monday that the Organised Labour, in deference to the high esteem of the President, agreed to convene a meeting of its organs immediately to consider the commitment of the President.
As the nationwide strike by the Organised Labour over a new minimum wage for workers paralyse economic activities in Nigeria, Akume said, “The tripartite committee is to meet every day for the next one week with a view to arriving at an agreeable national minimum wage.”
The meeting has the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero; and his counterpart in the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, in attendance.
On the government’s side were Akume; Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris Malagi; and Labour Minister Nkiruka Onyejeocha; among others.
The communique of the meeting, signed by Idris, Onyejeocha, Osifo and Ajaero, read in full:
RESOLUTIONS REACHED AT THE MEETING BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE ORGANISED LABOUR HELD ON MONDAY 3RD JUNE, 2024.
Further to the negotiation by the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage (NMW) and subsequent withdrawal of Labour from negotiation, the Leadership of the National Assembly intervened on 2nd June, 2024. The Organised Labour declared nationwide strike on Monday, 3rd June, 2024 to drive home its demands.
The Federal Government, in the National interest, convened a meeting with Labour held in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, on Monday 3rd June, with a view to ending the strike action.
After exhaustive deliberation and engagement by both parties, the following resolutions were reached:
The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria is committed to a National Minimum Wage that is higher than N60,000;
II. Arising from the above, the Tripartite Committee is to meet everyday for the next one week with a view to arriving at an agreeable National Minimum Wage;
III. Labour in deference to the high esteem of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria’s commitment in (ii) above undertakes to convene a meeting of its organs immediately to consider this commitment; and
IV. No worker would be victimized as a result of the industrial action.
Done in Abuja on the 3rd of June, 2024.
Signed
For the Federal Government of Nigeria:
Mohammed Idris
03/06/24
Minister of Information and National Orientation
Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha
3/6/24
Minister of State for Labour and Employment
For the Organised Labour:
Joe Ajaero
President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)
Festus Osifo
President, Trade Union Congress.
The NLC and TUC had insisted that the current minimum wage of ₦30,000 can no longer cater to the well-being of an average Nigerian worker, lamenting that not all governors are paying the current wage award which expired in April 2024, five years after the Minimum Wage Act of 2019 was signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari. The Act should be reviewed every five years to meet the contemporary economic demands of workers.
Labour later handed the Federal Government a May 31 deadline for the new minimum wage. On May 31, the workers’ organs in the country declared a nationwide strike beginning on Monday, June 3, 2024, over the government committee’s inability to agree on a new minimum wage and reversal of the electricity tariff hike.
During the failed talks with the government, Labour rejected three government offers, the latest being N60,000. The TUC and the NLC subsequently pulled out of negotiations, insisting on N494,000 as the new minimum wage.
