FG urges labour unions to renew minimal wage negotiations
The Federal Government of Nigeria has referred to as on labour unions to proceed negotiations concerning the brand new minimal wage.
The attraction, issued by Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Monday at a press convention in Abuja, emphasises the federal government’s dedication to reaching a peaceable and mutually helpful end result.
Idris highlighted the current efforts by each the National Assembly and the federal government to interact with the Labour Unions.
He reiterated FG’s openness to dialogue, stressing the significance of a collaborative strategy.
“We will proceed to interact and proceed to make ourselves very out there within the context of those negotiations on behalf of the Nigerian individuals.
“Let me make it clear that we are not opponents on this negotiating table. We are united by the fact that we want the best for the Federal Republic of Nigeria and all 200 million citizens of the country,” Idris said.
He underscored the necessity for a balanced and real looking decision, noting the numerous implications of labour’s present proposal.
The labour unions proposed a brand new minimal wage of N494,000, a 1,547 per cent improve from the present wage.
According to Idris, this is able to lead to an annual wage invoice of N9.5 trillion for the Federal Government alone, not accounting for added prices to state governments and personal sector employers.
Such a rise, Idris warned, may cripple the economic system and result in huge job losses.
The authorities has additionally pointed to different measures aimed toward assuaging financial pressures on Nigerians, such because the National Consumer Credit Scheme and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
Idris emphasised that aid for Nigerians shouldn’t solely come via elevated wages but in addition via efforts to cut back the price of residing and guarantee extra disposable revenue.
The Nigeria Labour Congress on Friday declared a nationwide indefinite strike beginning at midnight on Sunday, June 2, 2024, because of the Federal Government’s refusal to extend the proposed minimal wage above N60,000.
The President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, introduced the strike following failed negotiations between the federal government and organised labour.
Despite the federal government’s remaining provide of N60,000, which included a current improve from an preliminary N57,000, the labour unions discovered the proposal inadequate.
At the assembly, labour revised its demand, decreasing it by N3,000 from the preliminary N497,000 proposed final week, setting the brand new proposal at N494,000.
Despite this concession, the negotiations remained deadlocked as the federal government maintained its provide of N60,000, resulting in the declaration of a nationwide indefinite strike.
On Monday, some unions shut their workplaces to adjust to the directive of the 2 labour unions to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike.
