The minimum wage saga between the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government and the Organised Labour seems to be far from the end.
Perhaps, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), had thought of the minimum wage strike of Monday, June 3, as enough lesson for the government.
Shortly after a meeting with the Federal Government, the unions called off the strike for a week, a decision that left many Nigerians disappointed.
To make matters worse, the unions went ahead to sign an agreement with the government, unknown to them that the government had other plans.
In that agreement, which the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, signed with shinning teeths, the Federal Government promised to present a minimum wage above the proposed ₦60,000.
As if Nigerians knew, they had raised numerous concerns about the about that will be added.
The New Minimum Wage
It was so much that the president of the TUC, Festus Osifo decided to speak.
According to him, the unions will not accept any little addition to the ₦60,000 minimum wage offer.
Well, guess what, Nigerians were right.
The Tinubu-led Federal Government has added ₦2,000 to its offer of a new national minimum wage making it ₦62,000.
On the other hand, the organized labour has reduced its demand from ₦494,000 to ₦250,000.
However, the Tripartite Committee on New National Minimum Wage has adjourned as there was no consensus at the meeting.
Meanwhile, the organized private sector also backed the government offer of ₦62,000.
The Disagreement
The Tripartite Committee on New National Minimum Wage, NNMW, adjourned following their inability to reach an agreement.
According to the source: “there was disagreement on the amount. The government offered ₦62,000 and Labour offered ₦250,000.
“The report is to be communicated to the President for further deliberation on the next line of action. Let us wait for the President to receive the report.”
The Federal Government’s decision to add ₦2,000 to the proposed ₦60,000 once again echoes how the present administration rates the country’s workforce.
Did You Miss? Minimum Wage Strike: How Federal Government Rates Nigerian Workers
The organised labour’s negotiating team had walked out of the committee meeting on Tuesday, May 22.
That was the second time in two weeks after the Federal Government increased its offer to ₦60,000 from the ₦57,000 it offered on Wednesday, May 22.
Labour, represented by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and its Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, counterpart, walked out of the tripartite committee meeting on May 15.
This was after the government offered ₦48,000 and Organised Private Sector, OPS, offered ₦54,000, against the ₦615,000.
