By Tochukwu Bliss, Abuja
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), yesterday, gave the Federal Government until May 31, to conclude on a new minimum wage for civil servants or face a nationwide protest.
This is contained in a resolution jointly signed by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and TUC leader, Festus Osifo, ahead of continued negotiations with the government.
This followed discussions by the unions’ National Executive Council (NEC) on the persisting non-compliance with the 2019 National Minimum wage Act by some state governments as well as the recent hike in electricity tariff.
Recall that the labour leaders, last week, walked out of negotiations with the government following a N48,000 proposal by the Federal Government, against labour’s demand for N615,000 monthly salary in view of prevailing economic realities.
A communique issued after the meeting reads in part: “The NEC acknowledges the ongoing negotiations between the NLC/TUC, the Organised Private Sector (OPS) and the federal government regarding the new national minimum wage.
“While appreciating the efforts made thus far, the NEC emphasizes the urgency of reaching a fair and equitable agreement that reflects the true value of Nigerian workers’ contributions to the nation’s development and the current crisis of survival facing Nigerians as a result of government’s policies.
It emphasizes the non-negotiable nature of the demands put forth by Nigerian workers and urges the government to prioritize the resolution of these issues in the best interest of industrial peace.
“The NEC affirms its commitment to ensuring that the interests and welfare of workers are adequately protected in the negotiation process. The NEC-in-session therefore reiterates the ultimatum issued by the NLC and TUC to the federal government, which expires on the last day of this month.
“It emphasizes the non-negotiable nature of the demands put forth by Nigerian workers and urges the government to prioritize the resolution of these issues in the best interest of industrial peace.
“NEC-in-session further directed all state Councils whose state Governments are yet to fully implement the N30,000 (Thirty-thousand Naira) National Minimum Wage and its consequential adjustments to issue immediately a joint two-week ultimatum to the culpable state Governments to avert industrial action.
“Consequently, the NEC-in-session accordingly reaffirms the NLC and TUC joint ultimatum earlier issued to the Anambra state government by its Anambra state councils.
“It therefore directed all affiliates and workers in the state council to mobilize their members to ensure a successful action in the event the state government fails to meet the demands of workers by Thursday, the 23rd of May 2024.”
On the electricity tariff hike, the communique said: “The NEC reaffirms its demands for an immediate reversal of the tariff hike and the vexatious apartheid categorisation into Bands to alleviate the suffering of Nigerian workers and citizens and gives the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the federal government until the last day of May 2024 to meet these demands,”
