Organised Labour Stands Firm on ₦250,000 Minimum Wage Demand Amidst Negotiations
Organised Labour maintains its stance on the proposed ₦250,000 minimum wage, rejecting offers below what it deems adequate, as negotiations continue.
Chris Onyeka, Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), emphasized that the latest offer of ₦62,000 and a ₦100,000 proposal from certain quarters were unacceptable to labour.
NLC President Joe Ajaero reiterated the union's position while speaking to journalists during the ongoing International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage submitted its report to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Monday, following the conclusion of meetings with the Federal Government and the Organised Private Sector last Friday.
While the government and the private sector proposed ₦62,000, labour insisted on ₦250,000. However, the Nigeria Governors' Forum expressed concerns, stating that any wage above ₦60,000 was unsustainable.
Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, announced that the report would be presented to the President upon the return of organised labour leaders from Switzerland.
Addressing the minimum wage negotiations on 'Morning Brief,' NLC's Onyeka reaffirmed the union's position, asserting that they would not accept anything below what Nigerian workers deserve.
Onyeka emphasized the importance of considering the cost of living in Nigeria, stating that the demand for ₦250,000 was a fair concession to all parties involved.
Warning of potential industrial action, Onyeka stated that if the government failed to respond to workers' demands by the end of the one-week ultimatum, the NLC and TUC would consider resuming nationwide strikes.
Meanwhile, Ajaero clarified in Geneva that the submission of ₦62,000 by the government and employers did not equate to labour's acceptance of the figure, emphasizing the need for President Bola Tinubu to communicate his decision on the proposed wage.
