– Presidency assures of Buhari’s commitment
Organised Labour has issued a 14-day ultimatum for the Federal Government to return to the negotiation table or face industrial action.
It said this becomes imperative due to a comment credited to Dr Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour that he has adjourned negotiations indefinitely for further consultations.
A joint statement by the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, NUPENG and NUEE said: “We view his latest pronouncement with great concern, suspicion and outrage.
This new antic certainly is not acceptable to Nigerian workers who had expected a new national minimum wage since 2016 but who out of uncommon sacrifice and patriotism hearkened to government’s appeal and the process was delayed.”
The National Minimum Wage Committee was inaugurated in November 2017 but it began work in March 2018 with timelines to deliver on its mandate of arriving at a new national minimum wage in August/ September 2018.
In the course of the work of the Committee, members had the ample time to consult.
In any case, the Committee was satisfied that it received memoranda and inputs from 21 state governments, specialised Agencies of the Federal Government, the Organised Private Sector, Organised Labour and the general public.
We even recall that Dr Ngige himself had assured workers during the 40th-anniversary celebration of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in February this year that workers should expect a new national minimum wage in September this year.
We wonder what has gone amiss between February 28 and now. Or do we assume that the Honourable Minister is acting a script?
In light of this, his pronouncement is capable of rubbishing the work of the Committee as well as raising serious concerns about the readiness of the Government to accede to the putting together of a new national minimum wage.
Beyond this, the Minister’s pronouncement has generated considerable tension among workers and provoked sharp reactions from the unions which justifiably argue that the Government is only out to waste the time of workers and is not prepared to pay a new national minimum wage.”
Labour emphasised that the national minimum wage was not only legally due about two years ago, the increase in the pump price of petroleum products by the administration with fundamental consequential effects on the citizenry, the increase in electricity tariff, the massive devaluation of the Naira leading to a punitive exchange rate, and hyperinflation, all of which led to a rising cost of living for workers and other Nigerians made a new national minimum wage not only necessary but urgent.
It said: “We are saddened to note that the recommendations of the Technical Committee on Minimum Wage and Palliatives chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation which was mandated to fashion out mitigatory strategy, policies, and programmes to cushion the vagaries of the increase in the pump price of petroleum products have not been implemented to date.
The present posturing of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige who functioned as Acting Chairman of that Committee brings back painful memories of precious time wasted, energies dissipated and hopes betrayed. Coupled with this, the Minister’s latest pronouncement goes to cast further doubt on the integrity of the government as well as underscores the inherent danger in doing business with Government.
In view of the foregoing, we demand that Government does all that is necessary to ensure that the Tripartite Committee is allowed to conclude its work within 14 days from today.
We would want to use this opportunity to let the Government and the whole world know that in the event that this demand is not met, we will not guarantee continued industrial peace and harmony.”
Buhari is committed to new minimum wage – Presidency
Meanwhile, the Presidency has reassured workers of the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to an increase in the minimum wage.
Senator Ita Enang, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), gave the assurance on the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Forum in Abuja.
He spoke against the backdrop of alleged lack of commitment by the Federal Government to an upward review of the minimum wage, which has been N18, 000 for over eight years.
He said: “I want to assure you that the Buhari-led administration is very honest and committed to reviewing the salaries of workers.
If he did not, he would not have set up a committee on minimum wage headed by a retired Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
This is a sign of commitment, and this retired HoS is not an off-the-mill retired Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; the Minister of Labour is part of it.
So, it shows the level of commitment, and it is not a committee of the Federal Executive Council; it is a presidential committee set up and inaugurated by the president.”
The tripartite National Minimum Wage Committee, made up of 29 members drawn from organised labour, the federal and state governments, was inaugurated in May, 2017.
Although the committee was given until September 1 to submit its report, it could not meet the deadline due to disagreement over the minimum wage figure.
On August 21, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, blamed the delay on the inability of state governors to come up with an agreed figure.
He stated that the Federal Government through its Economic Management Team, was working with the governors to find a common ground.
Until then, the minister said he could not tell when the new minimum wage would be implemented.
On Monday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) through its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said the government was frustrating the process.
He stated that the congress had summoned a meeting of its organs for next week to report the Federal Government and decide on the next line of action.
Enang also called on labour leaders to consider unemployed Nigerians in its demand for salary increment.
His word: “So, when we are talking about increase in salaries, I agree to it, but I think we should also factor along creating employment for those who are yet to have.”
He said that the Federal Government was already working in that direction by encouraging its agencies and parastatals to employ young and qualified Nigerians.
Enang stated that government was also creating self-employment opportunities for enterprising youths through its social investment programmes.
He added that the government was equally creating enabling environment in the agricultural and technological sectors for young Nigerians.
National Tribune/NAN
