Organized Labour, under the aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), have dismissed the Federal government’s fresh ₦57,000 minimum wage offer.
This was at the end of the meeting adjourned from Tuesday to Wednesday.
Reports indicated that organized labor saw reasons for lowering their demand for a minimum wage to ₦497,000 from ₦615,000.
On Tuesday, the Federal Government proposed a minimum wage of ₦54,000 to organized labor. Last week, it had proposed ₦48,000, which led Nigerian workers to stage a walkout.
In an interview on Tuesday with Channels Television Politics Today, NLC president Joe Ajaero called the government’s offer inadequate.
“It is still not substantial compared to what we need to make a family moving,” he said.
In a separate interview with ARISE TV, Festus Osifo, President of TUC claimed the Government is toying with Nigerian Workers, and the minimum wage proposal isn’t a reflection of where the country should be.
However, a member of the Organized Labour spoke with newsmen, and revealed details of the meeting.
“The final proposal from labour was ₦497,000 and that was after the government and the private sector proposed ₦57,000, the source disclosed.
“Initially, the government refused to shift grounds on the ₦54,000 it proposed earlier, noting that it didn’t have enough funds to pay. However, we took a 30-minute break to make further deliberations.”
In his interview with ARISE TV, Festus Osifo lampooned State Governors for their absence at the meetings on minimum wage.
However, some of the Governors were present physically and virtually, according to the source who spoke with the Press.
“Governors Obaseki and Uzodinma were present while Governor Soludo joined us via Zoom. The government needs to be serious as regards these negotiations.”
A PUNCH report disclosed that another member of the Organized Labour said the meeting has been postponed till Tuesday.
“The outcome of the negotiation of the National Minimum Wage Committee with the Federal Government is not encouraging. The Federal Government increased it from ₦54,000 to ₦57,000, and the organised labour moved from ₦615,000 to ₦500,000, and then to ₦497,000 and the meeting has been adjourned to next week Tuesday.”
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