The Organised Labour has said that there is no going back on the May 31, 2024 deadline for the implementation of the new minimum wage of N615,000 for workers.
A source who was at the meeting between Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) disclosed this on Monday, May 20.
During the meeting, the unionists resolved to “stand on business” as regards the May 31, 2024 deadline.
“We met Today, and one of the resolutions is that we are not shifting grounds on the May 31 deadline,” the source, who is also a member of the minimum wage committee, said.
The Chairman of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage, Alhaji Bukar Goni, indicated in a letter of invitation to labour leaders that negotiations will continue on Tuesday (Tomorrow).
His letter came 24 hours after the leaders of the NLC and TUC walked out on the minimum wage negotiation committee after the federal government offered to pay N48,000 as the new minimum wage.
The organised private sector, on the other hand, proposed an initial offer of N54,000. After dumping the talks, the labour leaders addressed a press conference where they expressed their anger over the Federal Government’s offer.
The National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, insisted on N615,000 minimum wage, arguing that the amount was arrived at after an analysis of the current economic situation and the needs of an average Nigerian family of six.
He blamed the government and the OPS for the breakdown in negotiation, saying, “Despite earnest efforts to reach an equitable agreement, the less than reasonable action of the Government and the Organised Private Sector has led to a breakdown in negotiations.”
Politics Nigeria earlier reported that the Organised Labour had agreed to attend the negotiation meeting of Tripartite Committee on the Minimum Wage slated for Tuesday, May 21, after an apology by the federal government.
Etim Okon, vice president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) gave the confirmation on Monday while reacting to questions on Labour’s next move after rejecting the N48,000 minimum wage proposed by the Bola Tinubu administration.
“The federal government has apologised and the next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday and we are going to appear and present our demand,” Okon said.
“We will still be presenting the N615,000. It is what we presented before we walked out, though our submission was not rejected by the government.
“We only rejected the N48,000 that government presented. Because they did not show us how they arrived at that amount.
“That is taking cognizance of transportation, housing, food, utilities, health, education among others which are basic needs of the people.
“So government should come out clearly with what they are offering with the indices and variables and also how they arrived at that. This is all what we are saying,” he added.
