Organised Labour has urged President Bola Tinubu to personally intervene in the ongoing negotiation over minimum wage to avert the indefinite strike action scheduled to start on Monday.

This is as the Federal Government warned that the national minimum wage being demanded by labour could destabilise the economy.

Organised Labour had given a May 31, 2024 ultimatum on the new minimum wage.

On Tuesday, May 28, talks between the Federal Government and Organised Labour broke down after the government and the Organised Private Sector raised their offers to N60,000.

They Asked Me To Sign That It’s 50-50 Before Cutting My Leg - Ibadan Poly Graduate0.00 / 0.00

The government added N3,000 to its initial offer of N57,000 proposed last week, making the total figure N60,000. It was dismissed by labour at the meeting.

Several impeccable sources from both the Trade Union Congress and Nigeria Labour Congress, who spoke to Sunday PUNCH, stressed that the Federal Government and the organised private sector should not expect labour to accept anything less than a six-digit offer.

The unions said the government was not serious about the negotiations, adding that the shift from N48,000 to N57,000 was too meagre to be considered as ‘shifting grounds’.


They noted that the promise made by President Bola Tinubu when he became President and on Workers’ Day was that the Federal Government would pay a living wage, adding that N57,000 did not fall into that category.

On Friday, the Nigeria Labour Congress declared an indefinite nationwide strike, starting on Monday, June 3, 2024, due to the Federal Government’s refusal to increase the proposed minimum wage above N60,000.

The President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, announced that the strike followed failed negotiations between the government and organised labour.

Despite the government’s final offer of N60,000, which included a recent increase from an initial N57,000, the labour unions found the proposal insufficient.

At the meeting, labour revised its demand, reducing it by N3,000 from the initial N497,000 proposed last week, setting the new proposal at N494,000.

Despite this concession, the negotiations remained deadlocked as the government maintained its offer of N60,000, leading to the declaration of a nationwide indefinite strike.

However, speaking to our correspondent in a telephone interview in Abuja on Saturday, the Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyecheoja, said the strike was unnecessary, urging the Organised Labour to return to the negotiation table for more discourse.


She said, “The government is still willing to accommodate them, to listen to words of reason and knowledge, and to know that the president is committed to the Nigerian workers and Nigerian citizens, all of us.”

Speaking on the N494,000 set by Labour, the minister noted that the government won’t be able to breathe.

She said, “By the time you do adjustments or anything, that means there won’t be…in short, the government will not breathe anymore.

“The government’s position is that the strike is unnecessary. If you say people are hungry, we know that people are hungry and that’s why we can increase the minimum wage, even when it’s not convenient.”

Also reacting to the decision of Organised Labour to embark on strike in protest, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the sum of N494,000 national minimum wage demanded by organised labour, which cumulatively amounts to the sum of N9.5 trillion bill yearly was capable of destabilising the economy and jeopardiing the welfare of over 200 million Nigerians.

Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, the minister said the offer of N60,000 minimum wage by the Federal Government, which translates to a 100 per cent increase on the existing minimum wage of 2019, had been accepted by the Organised Private Sector, which is a member of the tripartite committee of the negotiations team.

Idris, according to a statement released by his Special Assistant (Media), Rabiu Ibrahim, on Saturday night stated further that labour’s demand could destabilise the economy, bring further hardship to over 200 million Nigerians and cause job loss in the private sector.

He said, “The Federal Government’s new minimum wage proposal amounts to a 100 per cent increase on the existing minimum wage. Labour, however, wanted N494,000, which amounted to 1,547 per cent on the existing wage.

“The sum of N494,000 national minimum wage which Labour is seeking would cumulatively amount to the sum N9.5tn bill to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“Nigerians need to understand that whereas the FG is desirous of ample remuneration for Nigerian workers, what is most critical is that President Tinubu will not encourage any action that could lead to massive job loss, especially in the private sector, who may not be able to pay the wage demanded by the Organised Labour.”

The Minister said even though Labour was keen on the take-home pay of about 1.2 million workers, the Federal Government was concerned about the welfare of over 200 million Nigerians based on its guiding principle of affordability, sustainability, and the overall health of the nation’s economy.

Idris appealed to the Organised Labour to return to the negotiating table and embrace reasonable and realistic wages for their members.

He said because of the commitment of the Tinubu administration to the welfare of workers, the wage award of 35,000 for federal workers would continue until a new national minimum wage was introduced.

However, speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the National Treasurer of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Hakeem Ambali, urged Tinubu to personally intervene in the ongoing minimum wage negotiation by calling all parties to a parley to avert the strike, insisting that the offer of N60,000 from the government was unreasonable, considering the current rate of inflation.


Ambali insisted that it was the duty of the Federal Government to avert the strike, adding that the government had a whole month to negotiate a reasonable minimum wage with labour to prevent industrial action.

He said, “For a whole month, we have been going forward and backward between FG and Labour. Labour shows concern and perseverance. You will recall that on May 1, Labour gave an ultimatum that we would embark on strike after the last day of May. Those in government should have done what was needed to avert this. As of today, labour has taken a decision.”

Ambali, however, noted that President Tinubu could avert the strike if he personally intervened in the negotiation with Organised Labour.

He said, “Within 24 hours, the FG and Mr President can avert the strike if he (Tinubu) shows direct interest. He has the final say. The buck stops at his table.”

He also disagreed with the argument that the FG had done enough by doubling the minimum wage from N30,000 to N60,000, noting that the rate of inflation was much higher than the announced increament.

He said, “If the PMS price was increased by 100 per cent, then the 100 per cent increment would have been reasonable. What is the percentage ratio? It was N165 to N700. All the macroeconomic indices pointed to it that the inflation rate had increased dramatically. For Nigerian workers to be able to cope with this inflationary trend, something reasonable should have been done. When you look at 2019 when that N30,000 (minimum wage) was agreed upon; you will agree that it was looking good with the dollar equivalent then. What is the dollar equivalent of this N60,000 now? Is it not $45 or so?

“If you look at that, you will realise that the government still has the obligation to give a reasonable wage to workers. From our calculations, to feed a family of six, a worker needs N90,000. So, what are they saying? The government should show understanding. A well paid worker is an asset to national growth and development.”

Ambali also disagreed that the demand for higher minimum wage by labour would affect the economy negatively, stressing that it would rather have positive impacts.

He said, “Once workers are well paid, the purchasing power will increase. All the local manufacturing companies, the SMEs, and patronage will increase, and that will grow the economy. The government will also generate huge amounts of taxes from the workers.

“If the government shows that they are reasonable, Labour is ready to move. But, the peanut increment is as if we are not serious. Anything lower than six digits may not be reasonable. As an insider in the negotiation, I know that Labour will shift ground, but there must be commitment and seriousness from the government.”

Also reacting to the demands by Organised Labour, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, said the Organised Labour should be reasonable in its demand, except if it was using the declared strike to display its frustration over the loss of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election.

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“Labour leaders need to be reasonable and not paralyse our economy unless they are using the strike as a continuous ventilation of the frustration they had when their party lost the 2023 presidential election.

“Can you pay your driver or cleaner N500,000 a month? Let’s not befuddle the issue. The government is not saying it is not reviewing minimum wage, it is saying it will pay something affordable and sustainable. N500,000 or N615,000 is out of it,” Onanuga wrote on his verified X handle on Saturday.

No money to stock food– Workers

State and federal civil servants on Saturday had mixed reactions to the indefinite strike declared by Organised Labour in response to the Federal Government’s refusal to raise the proposed minimum wage from N60,000.

Speaking in separate interviews with Sunday PUNCH yesterday, some civil servants said even though the indefinite strike was long overdue due to the government’s insensitivity to labour’s demands, they did not have money to stock food in their homes ahead of the industrial action.

Speaking with our correspondent, a vice-principal in a public secondary school in Ibadan, Oyo State, identified only as Mr Olowojebutu, noted that even though the indefinite strike was long overdue due to the Federal Government’s mindlessness to workers’ welfare, he did not have money to buy foodstuff when the industrial action takes off on Monday.

He, however, said he was prepared for the strike, praying that the two parties (Organised Labour and the Federal Government) would eventually reach a befitting agreement after the strike.

Also, another civil servant, Joseph Ade, said surviving during the strike might be tough for his family, because he did not have any money to buy foodstuffs, because the notice of the industrial action was short.

“They should do everything to stop this strike. We don’t have money, the cost of fuel is high, food prices are high and now strike. They want to worsen the situation of Nigerians, and God will not allow them,” he said.

A government worker identified as Omobola Atilade in the Federal Capital Territory also supported the strike, but said she might not buy enough foodstuffs for the period due to lack of adequate funds.

“On this strike, I agree with the NLC because the Federal Government failed to reach an agreement with them. How will the Federal Government say they can only pay N60,000 as the minimum wage during this economic crisis?

“On Sunday, I will go to the market to buy some food items because no one can tell how long the strike will take. Although, I don’t have enough money to do that, I will manage the little one I have with me,” she told Sunday PUNCH.

However, a public servant based in Anambra State, Chima Uchenna, dismissed the seriousness of the announced strike, saying he didn’t believe it would affect businesses.

He said, “I don’t take NLC seriously. I am not bothered about the strike and I have no intention of stocking up because of it. The market will still be on as usual. I think it will be a sketchy strike.”

PENGASSAN, NUPENG react

Meanwhile, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers, on Saturday, wrote separate letters to their various National Executive Councils, mandating them to embark on an indefinite strike on Monday.

Both unions told their respective councils that the strike notice was in compliance with the order of the NLC and the TUC, as they vowed to discipline members who disobeyed the order.

In the letters, seen by our correspondent, PENGASSAN and NUPENG directed their members to shut down all operations in the upstream, midstream and downstream arms of the oil sector, except for personnel manning for safety.

The General Secretary, PENGASSAN, Lumumba Okugbawa, signed the letter for the senior staff association, while the General Secretary, NUPENG, Afolabi Olawale, signed for the downstream/midstream oil union.

NUPENG members largely control activities in the midstream and downstream arms of the oil sector, while those in PENGASSAN handle the bulk of the upstream activities in the oil and gas sector.

The letter by PENGASSAN read in part, “Following the directives from our umbrella body, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, on the above subject, you are hereby directed to withdraw your services from all work locations effective Monday, June 3, 2024.

“The withdrawal of members includes offices, logistics base, field operations, terminal operations, loading points, etc. The only exception is personnel manning for safety.

“The above is as a result of the breakdown of the discussion on the national minimum wage between the government and organised labour, as government is not desirous of offering an acceptable minimum wage that could address the current economic challenges plaguing the country’s workforce.

“We expect a total compliance as anything to the contrary will be viewed as sabotage of the struggle, which will attract the necessary sanctions.”

On their part, NUPENG in its letter titled, “Compliance with the directive on indefinite nationwide strike,” said the union was fully committed to the decision to embark on strike.

The letter read in part, “We bring you fraternal greetings from the national secretariat of our great union. This is to notify all our members and branches in all oil and gas installations, operations and services including distribution and marketing of petroleum products, that our great union is fully committed to ensuring total compliance with the directive of the Nigeria Labour Congress issued on Friday, May 31, 2O24, for an indefinite nationwide strike commencing from Monday, June 3, 2024.”



Punch

N70-N80k should be okay for now

After some months, FG should flush out the ghost workers and those with fake certificates. The money saved there would be added to the new minimum wage in a year or so

helinues:
N70-N80k should be okay for now

After some months, FG should flush out the ghost workers and those with fake certificates. The money saved there would be added to the new minimum wage in a year or so

Percentage of labour force under FG is less than 3%. If FG increases minimum wage to any amount, Nigerians are dissipating unnecessary energy for the welfare of less than 3%. What happens to 97%?

Currently, States paying #18k minimum wages:
Abia
Anambra
Delta
Bayelsa
Zamfara

How do you encourage these to pay #30k before you talk of #100k?

It is not decision of FG to make, but the joint committee members which are FG, States , LG and Organized Private Sector

abc115:


Percentage of labour force under FG is less than 3%. If FG increases minimum wage to any amount, Nigerians are dissipating unnecessary energy for the welfare of less than 3%. What happens to 97%?

The N70-N80K is still fair considering the Nigeria current economy. The government should match up with social programs and more developments

"...Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, said the Organised Labour should be reasonable in its demand, except if it was using the declared strike to display its frustration over the loss of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election."

This guy is DUMB in a way that calls for a scientific research.

While the request of the Labour Unions is a bit on the high side, it's disturbing to see how the government continue to DISMISS their points.

FG keep treating them like stubborn kids to be disregarded rather than adults to be negotiated with.

I bet the dismissiveness is one of the reasons Labour is shutting down everywhere tomorrow.

Also, I'm starting to think the excuse about how much such an increase would cost the government is LAME. Only Tinubu and Shettima spent almost #9B on travelling in just 3 months.

abc115:


Currently, States paying #18k minimum wages:
Abia
Anambra
Delta
Bayelsa
Zamfara

How do you encourage these to pay #30k before you talk of #100k?

It is not decision of FG to make, but the joint committee members which are FG, States , LG and Organized Private Sector

Are those not the states chest beating about IGR, are those not the states donating billions for pilgrim.

Are those not some of the states where the governor appointed almost 200+ Pa's

Those listed states can afford below N100k per month. After all, they have nothing to show for the monthly Oyel they have been receiving not to talk about the increase for months now

helinues:


Are those not the states chest beating about IGR, are those not the states donating billions for pilgrim.

Are those not some of the states where the governor appointed almost 200+ Pa's

Those listed states can afford below N100k per month. After all, they have nothing to show for the monthly Oyel they have been receiving not to talk about the increase for months now

Job opening at Erisco foods. The pay is attractive.

.

Namaster:
"...Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, said the Organised Labour should be reasonable in its demand, except if it was using the declared strike to display its frustration over the loss of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election."

This guy is DUMB in a way that calls for a scientific research.

While the request of the Labour Unions is a bit on the high side, it's disturbing to see how the government continue to DISMISS their points.

FG keep treating them like stubborn kids to be disregarded rather than adults to be negotiated with.

I bet the dismissiveness is one of the reasons Labour is shutting down everywhere tomorrow.

Also, I'm starting to think the excuse about how much such an increase would cost the government is LAME. Only Tinubu and Shettima spent almost #9B on travelling in just 3 months.

Left to FG, they can pay N100k as minimum wage but what about the states?

Minimum wage should be around $70 to $90 as it has always been..


80 to 130k

Labour should come up with a reasonable request around N100k. Even at that, it will take a lot of effort to convince state governments and private sector to accept such a proposal. Minimum wage is not just about the FG but about all employees of Labour in Nigeria.

Abia state is a Labour Party state. Still, the state is yet to start implementing the N30k minimum wage approved since 2019. How will Tinubu force states like Abia to pay N494k as minimum wage? So, it’s time for all parties to get serious and come up with something realistic.

Government and labour should stop this cat and mouse game.

Solution is simple.

1. Categorise the minimum wage according to business type/turnover.

Subsistence businesses - (less than 2m pa.) 35k
nano and micro businesses (2m-10m pa) 65k
Small business (11m-50m pa) - 100k
Medium businesses (51m-100m pa) - 130k
Big businesses (101m-2b pa) - 180k
Large coporations (2.1b and above) 200k
Governments at all levels - 150k

Then ALL political office holders should earn minimum wage of government. If a state government pays less than approved minimum wage, all political office holders from that state should earn the minimum, including the representatives at national assembly

2. Peg customs exchange at N500 to $1 for 2 years. This would create stability and bring down prices immediately.

3. Invest heavily in security, especially drones to track attacks. This would allow people go back to farms.

4. All government & political office holders should purchase only locally assembled vehicles. No exemptions. Car purchase by government is a major source of drain on fx and very unproductive spending.

5. Tie income to taxes and assets. A major cause of our problems is that some people spend recklessly on unproductive things because there is no accountability, no tax commitments. People have assets of over N2bn but pay annual tax of less than N500k. How?

These are immediate steps that should be taken pending when other measures can come into play.

Which yeye intervention again. This has to be the most useless labour union ever. A very weak Ajaero.

Namaster:
"...Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, said the Organised Labour should be reasonable in its demand, except if it was using the declared strike to display its frustration over the loss of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election."

This guy is DUMB in a way that calls for a scientific research.

While the request of the Labour Unions is a bit on the high side, it's disturbing to see how the government continue to DISMISS their points.

FG keep treating them like stubborn kids to be disregarded rather than adults to be negotiated with.

I bet the dismissiveness is one of the reasons Labour is shutting down everywhere tomorrow.

Also, I'm starting to think the excuse about how much such an increase would cost the government is LAME. Only Tinubu and Shettima spent almost #9B on travelling in just 3 months.

I swear the man is really dumb. A special adviser on information who's not too well
informed to know the difference between labour party and labour union that's made up of workers from different political parties. His personal hatred for Ajaero has affected his brain.

He's not also aware of what's contained in the minimum wage act if not he wouldn't use his personal driver as an example.

Tinubu appointed someone not fit for the job
SMH.

helinues:


Left to FG, they can pay N100k as minimum wage but what about the states?

States can pay if they want to. It's not about the money as you think but the willingness to pay .

The federal government has increased allocations going to states. It's almost times 3.

And because of this,Tinubu has been begging the governors to use the excess money they're getting from the centre to provide palliatives and pay wage awards to workers , but most of them have ignored him.

Only a few governors have done something in that regard . The others are silently stealing the windfall and pretending as if nothing has changed.

abc115:


Percentage of labour force under FG is less than 3%. If FG increases minimum wage to any amount, Nigerians are dissipating unnecessary energy for the welfare of less than 3%. What happens to 97%?

Currently, States paying #18k minimum wages:
Abia
Anambra
Delta
Bayelsa
Zamfara

How do you encourage these to pay #30k before you talk of #100k?

It is not decision of FG to make, but the joint committee members which are FG, States , LG and Organized Private Sector

Please remove Delta State from your list.

triplechoice:


States can pay if they want to. It's not about the money as you think but the willingness to pay .

The federal government has increased allocations going to states. It's almost times 3.

And because of this,Tinubu has been begging the governors to use the excess money they're getting from the centre to provide palliatives and pay wage awards to workers , but most of them have ignored him.

Only a few governors have done something in that regard . The others are silently stealing the windfall and pretending as if nothing has changed.

Are you aware that some states are yet to pay the N30k current minimum wage? They are still paying N18k, I won't mention states

The government is not serious at all.

While I understand that the labour unions are not making reasonable demands, the government has been far from reasonable with their own offers too.

At best, I will term the government offers as utterly ridiculous.

You claimed to be earning far more in revenue, yet, no one feels the impacts.

The government at both national and sub national are having ovetbloated workforce.

No palliative for one year since this suffering began.

Anything less than a 100k, the strike should hold.

Tinubu, I didn't vote for you to make people suffer.

If obi or atiku had done this, this is what my comment will be.

I'm not a hypocrite.

helinues:


Left to FG, they can pay N100k as minimum wage but what about the states?

Need a job?

If the union should collect bribe to call off this strike, may they die miserably.

Crime rate is on the high side because the purchasing power of people is getting decreasing on the daily basis.

It's either you pay people reasonably or build more prisons.

Low wage is directly promotional to high level corruption and crime rates.

helinues:


Are you aware that some states are yet to pay the N30k current minimum wage? They are still paying N18k, I won't mention states

You don't have the correct information. Only 5 States, according to labour, are not paying the correct old minimum wage of 30k, not 18k.

They're paying close to it, 25, 27 and 28 k and not that they're still paying the old minimum wage.

The news about the 5 States involved in this, with 2 denying it, was even on front page . Go check for it.

Modified. The 30k minimum wage has expired. So it's now refer to as the old minimum wage.

Ok

Ok