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Tag: minimum wage

  • Corps members to receive new minimum wage from 2020 Budget – Minister

    The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has said serving corps members of the National Youth Service Corps will enjoy increased allowance as a result of the N30, 000 minimum wage from next year.

    The minister said that increase in the allowances earned by corps members have been captured in the 2020 budget recently passed by the National Assembly.

    Dare spoke during a visit to the orientation camp of the NYSC in Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos state.

    In a statement by his media office in Abuja on Wednesday, Dare assured the corps members that the increase will be effected once it is signed into law.

    Dare said the over 350, 000 youth that pass through the NYSC yearly are essential to the success of any change agenda for the present and future generations.

    “I have always advocated that Nigeria must invest in the Youth. We at the Ministry are refocusing the development of our youth in terms of programming.

    The Ministry has developed a programme called DY.NG. We want it to be a two month program that you would run during your service, after which you will have some level of certification. It will give you that added advantage beyond your degree,” Dare was quoted to have said in the statement.

    He said the template is being set up in partnership with the NYSC Directorate and some of the digital skills to be learnt include data processing, cloud computing, app development.

    The Minister also announced that he had enlisted all corps members across the country as Anti-Corruption Ambassadors to “spread the word, create awareness and make sure corruption does not thrive.

    Meanwhile, the Director-General of the NYSC, Brig Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim, has re-stated the zero tolerance of the scheme against mobilising unqualified graduates for National Service.

    He said the NYSC scheme would not relent in its efforts towards sanitising the mobilisation process as the NYSC Act does not allow the scheme to mobilise unqualified graduates to participate in the service corps.

    The DG stated this while addressing Commanding Officers at the HQ 3 Division, Nigerian Army in Jos, Plateau State.

    In a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations of the NYSC, Adenike Adeyemi, Ibrahim lamented the influx of unqualified graduates from some universities in West African countries.

    The DG solicited support from every stakeholder to end the “abnormally.”

    He commended the Army for its support through security, accommodation and welfare for serving corps members at all times.

    “Under my leadership, the Scheme would not mobilise any fake graduate. NYSC would team up with the National Universities Commission, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant agencies in the country to fight the battle.

    “We would continue to prosecute any fake Corps Member that is caught during registration in any of our Orientation Camps,” the DG said in the statement.

  • BREAKING: Osinbajo-led FEC orders payment of minimum wage latest Dec. 31

    BREAKING: Osinbajo-led FEC orders payment of minimum wage latest Dec. 31

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has directed the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, to effect payment of the new minimum wage on or before 31st December, 2019.

    This was disclosed by the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, at the end of FEC meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa Abuja.

    He also said FEC approved the minimum wage to take effect from 18 April 2019.

    The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said FEC approved N1.7 billion for procurement and installation of communication equipment for airport towers in Zaria and Katsina.

    The equipment, he said, is to ensure safety and efficiency at the airports.

    He said the completion period for the contract is eight months.

    Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, disclosed that the FEC approved the use of methanol in the Nigerian economy.

    He said that methanol is derivable from gas that accompanies crude oil.

    According to him, it has been profitable for oil companies to flare the gas, which has posed great environmental problems in the country.

    He said FEC has approved methanol to be used as transportation fuel, cooking.

    Stressing that it is cheap and safe, he said that it will also check deforestation in the country.

    He said that the project cannot be achieved overnight as plants have to be built and other logistics put in place.

    The minister said it will be private- sector driven.

    The Minister of Communication said FEC approved change of the name of the ministry to be changed to Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy.

  • Budget 2020: New minimum wage, personnel costs to gulp N4.88trn – Finance Minister

    Budget 2020: New minimum wage, personnel costs to gulp N4.88trn – Finance Minister

    By Emman Ovuakporie
    The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed on Wednesday revealed plans by the Federal Government to expend N4.88 trillion for payment of the new national minimum wage and other personnel costs in the 2020 fiscal year.
    Ahmed who disclosed this during the National budget public hearing on the 2020 budget estimates at the joint session held by the Senate and House of Representatives, told lawmakers of the present administration’s projected investment of N10.33 trillion into Government Owned Enterprises (GOEs/Bilateral/Multilateral project tied loans/expenditures.
    For the proposed budget deficit for 2020 was pegged at N2.175 trillion (1.52% of the GDP), is expected to be funded mainly by borrowing of N1.594 trillion, comprising of N744.99 billion domestic sources and N850 billion foreign sources (more concessionary financing against commercial financing arrangement.)
    On debt servicing, Federal Government proposed the sum of N2.5 trillion representing 23.74% of target expenditure for the incoming fiscal year and N296 billion for the retirement of maturing bond to local contractors, representing an increase of 169.09% from N110 billion for 2019.
    The minister affirmed that the country achieved 58% of its revenue target as at second quarter of 2019 fiscal year, explained that the success was largely because some one-off items such as the N10 billion from Oil Joint Venture Asset restructuring and N320 billion from revision of the Oil Production Sharing Contract legislation/terms are yet to be actualized.
    Breakdown of the actual revenue accrued to government’s coffer between January and June 2019 showed that total sum of N900 billion (49%) was from Oil revenue; N349.11 billion (86%) from Company income tax; N81.36 billion (71%) from Value Added Tax while N184.10 billion (100.47%) was from Customs Collections.
    “Fiscal deductions by NNPC for federally funded projects also exceeded target.”
    Of the total appropriation of N8.92 trillion, the sum of N3.39 trillion had been spent as at June 2019 against the prorated expenditure of N4.58 trillion, representing 76% performance while N294.63 billion had been released for capital projects as at 30th September, 2019, despite late signing of the budget on the 27th May, 2019.
    According to her, the 2019 actual GDP stands at 2.02% against the proposed 3.01% in the budget; 1.86mbpd of oil production against 2.3mbpd; $67.2 per barrel against the proposed $60 per barrel while the actual inflation rate stands at 11.4% against proposed 9.98% and exchange rate stands at N305.9/$ against the proposed N305/$ at half year.
    While speaking on the 2020 budget estimates she reflects that the adjustments to the MTEF/FSP with respect to the oil benchmark price of $57 per barrel from $55 per barrel and Customs revenue target raised to N1.5 trillion, an increase of N557.4 billion of which N235.5 billion is available to fund Federal Government’s budget.
    She also assured that debt service and the implementation of non-debt recurrent expenditure, notably payment of workers’ salaries and pensions are on track, while spending on 4 critical sectors namely power, roads, rail and agricultural sectors are of top priority.
    She expressed concern over the rising personnel cost including pension costs above N3 trillion, however noted that steps are being taken to “contain the rising personnel costs, including an October 2019 deadline by Mr. President for all MDAs to implement IPPIS.”
    As contained in the 2020 budget estimates, she explained that MDAs are to roll over 60% of the 2019 projects due to paucity of fund in the current year.
    Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Muktar Betara, in his remarks explained that the public hearing was aimed at making it an all-inclusive process in the task of national development.
    “As always, the enormity of demands translated to projects and huge capital, can hardly match available resources. This is the more reason why we in the national Assembly and particularly in the House of Representatives will always do our utmost best in thoroughly processing the national budget.
    “The 2020 Budget of ‘sustaining growth and job creation’ is no doubt built within robust and sound objectives, which if well programmed, will translate to effective implementation and dividends that will spiral growth across all sections and spheres of the country.
  • Minimum wage: FG, Labour finally reach agreement

    Minimum wage: FG, Labour finally reach agreement

    Following three days of delicate negotiations from Government and the Organised Labour on the consequential adjustments of the implementation of the new minimum wage of N30,000, both parties have finally reached an agreement.

    The Concillators to the agreement are Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige and his state counterpart, Dr Festus Keyamo.

    Witnesses to the agreement from the Government side are; Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, Ag. Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and Mr Olusegun Olufehinti, Director IPPIS, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

    On the Labour side are Mr Simon Anchaver, Ag. Chairman, JNPSNC and Mr Alade Bashir, Secretary General, JNPSNC.

    The communiqué reads thus: “Following the threat by Organised Labour not to guarantee industrial peace after Wednesday, October 16, 2019, as a result of the deadlock in the ongoing negotiation on the Consequential Adjustment of emoluments in Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) arising from the New National Minimum Wage of Thirty Thousand Naira (N30, 000.00) as imbued in the National Minimum Wage Act, 2019, the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment in exercise of his powers under the Trade Dispute Act, CAP T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004, apprehended the trade dispute and called the parties to conciliation meetings.

    “He met each of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) on Wednesday, 9th October and Monday 15th October, 2019. Thereafter, joint meetings were held on 16th, 17th and 18th of October, 2019, after which the following Terms of Settlement and Agreement pertaining to the Minimum Wage Consequential Adjustments in the Public Service were reached.

    “The consequential adjustment for Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), called group one is;
    GL 07 -23.2 per cent, GL 08 -20 per cent, GL 09 – 19 per cent, GL 10 – 14 is 16 per cent, while GL 15-17 is 14 per cent.

    “The second Group consists of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), Consolidated Tertiary Educational Institutions Salary Structure (CONTEDISS), Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure II (CONUASS II).

    “Others are; Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Salary Structure (CONPCASS) and Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS).

    “For Grade Level seven and its equivalent, it is 23.2 per cent, GL 8-14 Equivalent at 16 per cent, and
    GL 15-17/Equivalent at 10.5 per cent.”

    Confirming the agreement, the Trade Union Congress in a statement, said it was a win-win situation for Nigerian workers and commended the Federal Government and organised labour for their patience while the National Minimum Wage negotiations lasted.

    The statement jointly signed by President of the Congress, Mr Quadri Olaleye and Secretary General, Mr Musa-Lawal Ozigi, said it was not an easy journey, applauding government’s team for their wisdom and sincerity.

    “We commend the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan and her team for their sincerity.

    “Though they argued that government cannot afford to meet our earlier demand of N30,000 minimum wage across board, because of the economic situation in the country, we made them understand that some people cannot be more Nigerian than others, If we are tightening our belts, government should also do so.”

    The Union said as an organisation and a major stakeholder in the Nigerian project, they believe that the parties have done well.

    “We shifted grounds and that is why we were able to resolve things without major injuries. It is a win-win situation.”

    The TUC boss said he was particularly happy with the agreement, because it has addressed some salary discrepancies and overlapping issues that workers have agitated about.

    “This is a unique agreement and we promise to build on that by God’s grace,” he added.

    Earlier, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige said the new minimum wage was a national law and it must be obeyed by all tiers of government.

    “We have often repeated that the essence of that law was for the president to lift the vulnerable working force both in the private and public service.

    “This is a national law and it must be obeyed by all; state government, local government and all persons concerned that employ more than 25 persons in their organisation.

    “We have decided to fast tract discussions. We are fast tracking it because we need to put an end to the issue of minimum wage till the next five years, when it will arise again.

    “We need to finalise this today, The suspense is too much for the people. Even your constituency- workers, if we don’t conclude today, they will be thinking otherwise.

    “They will start thinking that you have been compromised, even the government side, if we don’t conclude today, they will start saying you people are influencing us.

    “This negotiation should be, in the spirit of give and take, in the spirit of one nation, end this thing. If we decide to empty the purse so that the nation will go broke, it will affect all of us.

    “If we do give and take, look at government purse and know that this purse has been badly depleted, make some concession, it will be in the interest of Nigeria.”

    NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, had earlier said that the organised labour would continue to be open minded and would keep up with the principles of collective bargaining.

    “We on this side of the table we are ready to ensure that we bring the entire process to a conclusion.

    “In the normal practice of Collective Bargaining, you look at issues from both sides, you look at the situation with workers, vis a viz their pockets and what will make the workers happy and very productive.

    “If wishes were horses, we would have wished that this entire negotiation was concluded yesterday.”

  • Minimum Wage: NLC suspends strike

    Minimum Wage: NLC suspends strike

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Delta on Thursday announced the suspension of the strike embarked on over the failure of the federal government to fully implement the new N30,000 minimum wage.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NLC in the state had on Tuesday embarked on strike to protest what it considered a failed negotiation by the Joint Negotiation Council (JNC) on the new minimum wage.

    Addressing newsmen on the sideline of the 5th Quadrennial State Delegates Conference of State Chapter of the Medical and Health Workers Union on Thursday in Asaba, Mr Goodluck Ofoburuku, the NLC Chairman, announced the suspension of the strike.

    He said that the strike was suspended in Delta State following intervention and directives from the national body for it to be allowed to conclude the negotiation on the consequential adjustment on the new minimum wage.

    “The initial directives that we received was that, if negotiation was not concluded by Tuesday, we should commence strike by Wednesday, which we complied with.

    “That is why, yesterday our people moved out to ensure that there was a compliance but based on the advice of the national body, we have advised our members to return to work and gradually they are going back to work.

    “We have been told that significant progress has been made by the Joint Negotiation Council (JNC),” the chairman said.

    Ofoburuku , however, said that the NLC in the state would await further directive from the national body should the negotiations fail.

    “We have soft pedaled but waiting for directive from the national should the negotiations fail.

    “The truth of the matter is that the state government has committed itself to pay the minimum wage once the template is ready.

    “However, if it is unsuccessful, the national headquarters will tell us what to do; I have no regret for taking an action that I am directed to take.

    “I was elected to fight for the interest of my people and if it means that going on strike is what will make the union get what it is asking for, I will not regret it,” Ofoburuku said.

    The NLC chairman, who is the outgoing State Chairman, Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, said that his administration achieved some goals, including salary reviews, encouraged the building of capacity of workers and in house training for members.

    “But lately, those of our members who had in house training are finding it difficult to be converted after their education, it is a challenge that I want the incoming executive to take up that issue,” he said.

  • Lagos will pay above N30,000 minimum wage – Sanwo-Olu

    Lagos will pay above N30,000 minimum wage – Sanwo-Olu

    The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu says the state will pay its workers above the N30,000 new national Minimum Wage.

    Sanwo-Olu made the promise on Tuesday when the state leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council paid him a courtesy visit in Ikeja.

    He said that the state was aware of the challenges faced by workers and was ready to address them, hence, the decision by his administration to pay more than the N30,000 minimum wage benchmark.

    Sanwo-Olu said that the implementation of the new minimum wage payment would take off when the Federal Government and labour unions concluded their negotiations.

    He said that the state was drawing up its finances and creating additional revenue sources that would enable the government to sustain the new minimum wage payment.

    According to him, the addition to the N30,000 benchmark is to motivate workers and encourage them to cope with challenges that may hinder their productivity.

    “As a government, we take the issue of minimum wage very seriously. We know how important and germane it is to the wellbeing of our people. We are technically ready to implement the new minimum wage.

    “I made commitment during my previous interactions with the labour unions before my assumption of office and I am still keeping to the promise made. However little it is, we will certainly pay more than N30,000 minimum wage.

    “We understand the position Lagos occupies and we understand the challenges workers are facing in Lagos. If other states can raise up to that amount, I believe Lagos needs to show a bit more to appreciate workers’ contribution to the growth of our state,” he said.

    Sanwo-Olu also spoke on demands of the labour leaders for workers, which include arrears of workers’ medical allowance, introduction of premium insurance for the workforce and timely pension payment for retired workers.

    They also demanded for mortgage scheme for housing, befitting labour secretariat and representation of workers’ unions in MDA boards’ appointments.

    Sanwo-Olu said he had directed the Commissioner for Finance to look into the unpaid arrears of workers’ medical allowance, with a charge to clear the backlog and make payment to the affected workers.

    The governor said that the state was planning to absorb its entire workforce in the recently introduced health insurance scheme, as the Ministry of Health was harmonising the modality to ensure all workers were covered in the scheme.

    He said that the government would collaborate with the Organised Labour Unions to float a post-retirement housing scheme that would enable workers of all cadres to apply and acquire permanent homes after leaving the service.

    Sanwo-Olu said that Lagos would be donating land for the purpose, while the labour unions would source for finance to develop the scheme.

    He said that the government had approved discounted rent for the workers occupying State-owned apartments, as it was part of the welfare programmes introduced by his administration to improve workers’ productivity.

    Sanwo-Olu said that his administration had started to tackle challenges limiting workers’ productivity, including massive rehabilitation of critical highways across the state to reduce travel time and diffuse road congestion.

    The labour leaders described Sanwo-Olu as “a listening leader” and observed that the Governor had started to fulfil promises made to the unions in the build up to the 2019 elections.

    The Chairman of Lagos Council of TUC, Comrade Gbenga Ekundayo, listed re-introduction of Town Hall meeting with labour unions and appointment of more women into the state’s cabinet as part of the promises fulfilled by the Governor.

    Ekundayo said that the labour unions had been meeting to develop a framework that would make the government capture traders in informal sector in the tax net.

    He said that the labour unions’ recommendations would be submitted to the Head of Service (HOS), Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola, in the coming weeks.

    The Chairperson of NLC, Lagos chapter, Comrade Funmi Sessi, said that workers were government’s partners in progress.

    Sessi commended the governor for keeping some of his promises to the workers’ unions.

    She promised that the Organised Labour would continue to support the government’s efforts toward improving the wellbeing of the residents and workers in the state.

  • New Minimum Wage: FG, labour resume negotiations to avert strike

    New Minimum Wage: FG, labour resume negotiations to avert strike

    The Federal Government and labour unions began talks on Monday to avert a nationwide strike by workers slated for Oct. 17.

    Labour has resorted to the strike option, after negotiation collapsed in finding a way out of the minimum wage logjam.

    The two parties have engaged in endless and often fruitless meetings, raising anxiety and frustrations among public sector workers, who have waited patiently over the months for the new wage.

    Speaking in Abuja on Monday at the continuation of a conciliatory meeting, Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, said the meeting was an opportunity for information sharing and an avenue to soften ground for a final meeting, slated for Oct. 15.

    He told the labour leaders to be open-minded in their dialogue so that both parties could get a way out of the minimum wage logjam.

    Ngige said he believed that the meeting would bring an end to issues in contention, if both parties agreed and understood each other’s positions.

    “If we don’t soften the ground bullets will fly and at the end of the day we will come back to the negotiating table. That is why we are doing this as a proactive measure.

    “Part of my work is to ensure that there is a quiet industrial milieu. The workforce brings out their full productivity and employers, businesses will not be disrupted. That is why we called you again.

    “Tomorrow, we are going to do the mixed-grill meeting. That mixed-grill meeting tomorrow can be one hour meeting, it can be two hours or it can be 12 hours, depending on what we are able to achieve today.

    “I appeal to everybody to show some understanding.

    “We are going to discuss dispassionately. Nothing will be hidden from anybody. The books of government, I talked about it before– when I mean books they are budgets– 2019/2020, we will make it bare.

    “I have warned them and I have advised them that if they come they should be prepared to present their case, meaningfully and successfully.

    “I will stay in the middle as an arbiter because that is what I am going to do in this instance.”

    The Deputy President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Mr Amaechi Asugwuni, who spoke on behalf of organised labour, said that the meeting was called by the minister to share information with labour leaders.

    He said that labour had made considerable shift on its demands from the earlier position on the consequential adjustment of the N30, 000 minimum wage.

    “We all know the consequences of delay is never fruitful and as such organised labour has come here with open mind in ensuring that facts are facts, also the situations are already known to us.

    “The economy is biting and as a matter of fact, we must assist the process at this time in ensuring that we close it earlier than needed so that we can avert the unforeseen.

    “It is only when you don’t know where you are going that you will waste a lot of time doing nothing.

    “The position of labour is very clear. It gives us the signpost of what we have asked for and where we are going. So every delay, every action taken is toward that position and we know that you will do your best to get there.

    “We believe that the Federal Government will do the needful because ours is a straight forward proposal.

    “We have made our proposal to the FG before now and government is to respond. We believe that by
    tomorrow, we will get the FG’s feedback and know the next thing to do.

    “Labour will not tolerate anything short of reasonable adjustment in the ongoing negotiation.

    “The consequential adjustment is a matter of percentage which requires give and take principle. You state what you want but it depends on government to see sense in your demand.

    “Labour has shifted beyond expectation. What government needs to do is to reciprocate by doing what is needful to appreciate the workers.

    “We are talking about compensation, salary and legitimate compensation for work done. Inasmuch as we believe in the consequential adjustment, it has to be reasonable, otherwise, people will feel neglected.

    “Tuesday’s meeting is the benchmark for labour’s action but mobilisation continues. The meeting will tell us the way forward because anything can happen.”

    On the mobilisation for strike, Asugwuni said that the meeting on Oct. 15 would determine everything, noting that mobilisation was on top gear “for an industrial action from 17th October, 2019”.

    NAN recalls that labour leaders are demanding 29 per cent salary increase for workers on salary grade level 07 to 14 and 24 per cent adjustment for officers on salary grade level 15 to 17.

    But the Federal Government had presented a proposal of 11 per cent salary increase for officers on grade level 07 to14 and 6.5 per cent adjustment for workers on grade level 15 to 17.

    On May 14, the Federal Government inaugurated the relativity and consequential adjustment committee, which in turn set up a technical sub-committee to work out a template for the adjustment of salaries of public service employees.

    But government and labour have failed to reach an agreement over relativity and consequential adjustments for the implementation of the new wage more than six months after it was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    In a communiqué issued on Oct. 7, labour warned that economic activities would be shut down from Oct. 16, if the Federal Government failed to reconvene a meeting of the committee on consequential adjustments.

     

  • Minimum Wage: FG, labour in closed door meeting

    Minimum Wage: FG, labour in closed door meeting

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, commenced dialogue with labour unions again in Abuja on Wednesday as time runs out on a deadline issued by labour for the payment of a new wage approved for workers by the Federal Government.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting is the latest in a series of meetings with labour leader, to commence the payment of the consequential adjustment in the new minimum wage, signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari since April 18.

    The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) are participating in the latest meeting with Ngige.

    On Oct. 7, labour leaders issued a communiqué, warning that economic activities would be shut down on Oct. 16, if the Federal Government failed to reconvene a meeting of the committee on consequential adjustments.

    Speaking on Wednesday, the Secretary-General of the JNPSNC, Mr Alade Lawal, told a meeting of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria in Abuja that workers had started mobilising for strike.

    He said the partial implementation of the minimum wage for levels one to six was a ‘divide and rule’ system that would be vehemently opposed by labour.

    “As far as I am concerned, nothing has been implemented. What are they implementing? We are negotiating something and somebody went behind to start issuing one circular.

    “As far as we are concerned, nothing has been done and if you want to look at it, levels one to three has been out-sourced.

    How many people are there? So when you even look at the circular, it is full of errors. As far as we are concerned, no circular has been issued.

    “You have a salary structure, you have a ratio between the minimum and the maximum, when the minimum was 18,000, you have what you have at the maximum, then you have tilted the minimum to 30,000, are you going to leave the table there?

    “It is distortion. You don’t allow distortion and it’s not allowed anywhere in the world. That is why you do consequential adjustment,’’ he argued.

    Lawal pointed out that organised labour was not opposed to discussion, consultations or anything.

    He said that what was worrisome was the delay in reconvening the meeting of the committee on consequential adjustment.

    “In the communiqué, issued last week by TUC, NLC and the Joint Council, we were asking government to reconvene the committee and within one week, let the committee complete its assignment.

    “As labour, we are not adverse to discussion, consultations or anything. But they are yet to reconvene the main meeting of the committee.

    “What I am saying is that the minister is free to call us. We will go. We are hoping that maybe he wants to use it to talk to the two sides before reconvening the meeting.

    “What I am saying is that you can’t sign any agreement in an informal meeting, until you reconvene the meeting of the committee handling the negotiation on consequential adjustment.

    “Anytime from Oct. 17, the leadership of labour will give directive to members nationwide on what to do.

    “The measure of seriousness can only be seen if something concrete is done between now and Oct. 16. We are not part of government. We don’t know what they are doing.

    “We can’t preempt them. So let’s see what happens between now and the 16th. If after the 16th and nothing is done, maybe, we can start rationalising.”

    NAN reports that implementation of the new wage has remained a problem, arising from the issue of relativity and consequential adjustments.

    On May 14, the Federal Government inaugurated the relativity and consequential adjustment committee, which in turn set up a technical sub-committee to work out a template for the adjustment of salaries of public service employees.

    However, government and labour have failed to reach an agreement over relativity and consequential adjustments for the implementation of the new minimum wage more than six months after it was signed into law.

  • Lagos workers demand N50,000 minimum wage as NLC warns of prolonged strike

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday urged the nation’s workers and the citizenry to brace up for a prolonged nationwide strike as the ultimatum it issued to the Federal Government to implement the N30,000 new minimum wage has expired.

    The warning came On Monday during this year’s World Decent Work Day celebration in Lagos.

    At the rally to mark the celebration, NLC President Ayuba Wabba, who was represented by the union’s Deputy General Secretary, Ismail Bello, stressed that if government failed to address the issue on or before October 31, the labour movement would take action. The union leader urged the government to agree to consequential adjustment of the salary and begin payment immediately.

    The workers, as early as 7 a.m, gathered at “Under Bridge” in Ikeja, the state capital, from where they marched to the House of Assembly.

    Bello said government’s dillydallying on the matter had strained its relations with labour, adding that this could cause a major national strike in a matter of days.

    “Accordingly, we would use this opportunity to appeal to the government to do the needful by urgently commencing the implementation to what we agreed on. We also would like to use this same opportunity to urge workers to fully mobilise for a prolonged national strike and enforce their right.

    “This strike action becomes the inevitable last option for us and we crave the understanding and support of all Nigerians and businesses.

    “We would want to assure workers that their labour, patience and diligence will not be in vain and that this leadership remains committed to giving all that it takes to ensure that they get just and fair wages due to them in a decent work environment appropriate to their well-being,” he said.

    Also, Lagos State NLC Chairman Agnes Funmi Sessi stressed that if other states pay N30,000 minimum wage, Lagos workers would not take less than N50,000.

    The union leader said this is because Lagos workers faced a lot of hazard every day, while the state is also special.

    “We, workers in Lagos State, will not take anything less than N50,000 as minimum wage. This is because workers face lots of hazards. There should be allowance for transportation, rail and many other things. The roads are bad. There is no electricity. The living condition is bad.”

  • Minimum wage: Workers should not listen to Timi Frank, Ngige – TUC

    The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has advised Nigerian workers to shun remarks by Timi Frank, the former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of APC that labour leaders have compromised.

    The Chairman, Enugu State chapter of the Union, Mr. Chukwuma Igbokwe, told newsmen in Enugu on Friday that if government listened to Frank, it might spell doom for the country and could precipitate a protracted labour unrest.

    In the same vein, the labour leader also urged workers to disregard the comment made by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige that government could not pay the new minimum wage unless some workers were laid off.

    According to him, Ngige probably did not know what he was saying when he said that government could not afford to pay the consequential salary adjustment unless the workforce was downsized.

    He said that government could pay N580 billion workers wage bill, pointing out that government had already paid N500 billion on arrears of salary.

    Recall that Timi Frank had advised the Federal Government to disregard the labour threat of going on strike over the implementation of the new minimum wage, insisting that labour leaders hobnob with those in authority and thus lacked the integrity to call workers out for strike.

    “He doesn’t know what he is talking about because if government should listen to him, it will be easier for labour to take drastic action,” Igbokwe advised.

    Igbokwe said that this would aggravate the issue unless a consensus was reached after October 16 when further negotiation between labour and government would take place.

    “I don’t think Ngige knows what he is saying,” the labour leader said.

    He said that the organised labour had made it clear that upward increment in worker’s salary became necessary because of the prevailing economic realities in the country such as the increase in monetary foreign exchange, VAT as well as general high cost of living in the country.

    “Labour has been magnanimous in scaling down their demand from 66.6 per cent to 29 per cent and 24 per cent, and for this reason, government should heed to their demand.