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The Organized Labour has fiercely responded to state governors regarding their statements on the new National Minimum Wage (NNMW).
The governors, through the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), indicated that they are working on what individual states can sustainably pay.
This statement has sparked a strong rebuttal from the Organized Labour, emphasizing the governors’ roles in the 37-member committee tasked with determining the new minimum wage.
Deputy President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Dr. Tommy Okon, expressed the belief that the governors were misquoted.
He suggested that their statement could be interpreted as focusing on what individual states could add to the baseline minimum wage rather than determining the baseline itself, which should be the same across all states.
Okon clarified that the governors are members of the tripartite committee and cannot set up a separate committee for determining the minimum wage.
The NLC declined to comment directly on the governors’ statements but reiterated its demand for a new minimum wage of N615,000.
An anonymous NLC official pointed out that the governors are treading on dangerous ground that could lead to industrial unrest.
The official emphasized that the NLC’s demand is a generous one and that the governors have the resources to pay much more than this amount.
The NLC also provided a breakdown of how the N615,000 figure was arrived at, taking into account the cost of living for an average family across the country.
The breakdown included expenses such as food, housing, clothing, and health care, among others.
The NLC argued that the figure is just for the bare necessities and does not include other expenses such as calls and data, entertainment, and savings.
The statement by the governors has raised concerns about the potential for industrial unrest if the negotiations do not result in a satisfactory agreement.
The Organized Labour has warned against inflammatory statements and urged the governors to work within the framework of the 37-member committee to reach a consensus on the new minimum wage.
The ongoing discussions highlight the tension between the state governors and the Organized Labour regarding the new minimum wage.
As the negotiations continue, it remains to be seen whether a consensus can be reached that addresses the concerns of both parties and avoids further escalation of the situation.
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