• Tripartite committee faults Labour’s linking of electricity tariff hike strike with new minimum wage
• Maritime workers set to shut down seaports from tomorrow
From Steve Agbota (Lagos) and Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejoecha, has said that the stance of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on a nationwide strike is not in the best interest of the country and its people.
Onyejoecha warned that initiating a strike amid current negotiations would not only worsen economic challenges but also intensify the hardships faced by millions of Nigerians striving to make ends meet through their daily efforts.
This was even as the Tripartite Committee on the New National Minimum Wage criticised the decision of Organised Labour to associate its nationwide strike against electricity tariff increases with discussions on the new minimum wage, describing it as unjust to the negotiating parties.
In a statement by her Media Aide, Emameh Gabriel, over the weekend, the Minister noted that the government has consistently shown dedication and positivity during the talks with organised labour.
She clarified that the government’s suggestions were meticulously developed, considering the nation’s economic circumstances and introducing inventive approaches.
The Minister also cautioned that any new minimum wage should not result in significant job cuts, especially in the Organised Private Sector, which employs the majority of the country’s workforce.
“This sector is crucial to the country’s economic growth and stability. The government’s stance is rooted in a deep understanding of the negotiations, demonstrating its dedication to finding a balance between the needs of workers and the economic realities of the country. The goal is to establish a minimum wage that is not only realistic but also sustainable, avoiding any potentially detrimental consequences for the economy.
“By adopting this approach, the government aims to safeguard the interests of both workers and employers, ensuring that any agreement reached is mutually beneficial and does not jeopardise the country’s economic progress. This balanced stance is crucial for maintaining harmony in the workforce and driving national growth.
“The government’s willingness to engage in dialogue and its demonstrated flexibility in the negotiations underscore its commitment to finding a mutually beneficial solution. However, labour’s inflexibility and unrealistic expectations may hinder the progress made thus far, ultimately harming the workers they represent and the nation as a whole, the minister added.
Meanwhile, the Tripartite Committee criticised Organised Labour for associating its nationwide strike against electricity tariff increases with discussions on the new minimum wage, describing it as unjust to the negotiating parties.
It emphasised the importance of establishing a new minimum wage that would not worsen job losses, particularly in the light of recent business closures resulting from the economic downturn.
The Committee, which raised the concerns in a statement on Friday, also highlighted its discussions with the Organised Labour, showing the efforts made to reach a consensus.
It said that during the meeting held on Tuesday, 28th May, 2024, both employers and Organised Labour tabled their offers and Government and Private Sector proposed a monthly wage of N60,000.00, representing a 100 percent increase from the existing 2019 National Minimum Wage. It said that in stark contrast, Organised Labour made an offer of N494,000 per month, a staggering 1,547 percent increase, which led to the meeting being adjourned with Organised Labour seeking further consultations before potentially revising their offer.
The Committee further claimed that efforts to reconvene on Friday, 31st June 2024, were thwarted when Organised Labour, insisting on employers to first shift grounds, abruptly walked out of the meeting.
It said despite the Government’s defence of its offer, highlighting economic considerations and non-monetary incentives, the Organised Labour refused to shift grounds.
“Thereafter organised labour walked out of the meeting. During the continuation of the meeting, the Government further defended their offer of N60,000 per month based on economic considerations and non-monetary incentives which include the following: N35,000 wage award for all treasury -paid Federal workers; N100 billion for the procurement of CNG-fuelled buses and CNG conversion kits; N125 billion conditional grant and financial inclusion to MSMEs; N25,000 each to be shared to 15 million households for three months; N185 billion palliatives (loans to states) to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal, N200 billion to support the cultivation of hectares of land to boost food production, N75 billion to strengthen the manufacturing sector, N1 trillion for student loans for higher education, release of 42,000 metric tons of grains from strategic reserves, purchase and onward distribution of 60,000 metric tons of rice from the rice millers association, recent salary increase of 25-35 per cent on all consolidated salary structures for federal workers,.
Other incentives included in the government’s offer include: 90 percent subsidy on health costs for federal civil servants registered on NHIS; light rail commissioned in Abuja to relieve transportation cost till the end of the year. Lagos State had already commenced the same initiative with its Blue and Red lines. In addition to the freedom of civil servants to engage in agriculture, the Federal Government approved the inclusion of ICT services for alternate sources of income.
“In conclusion, the meeting agreed that even where major and small businesses are closing down with consequent loss of jobs, the outcome of a new National Minimum Wage should be such that it will not trigger further massive job losses. It further noted that linking the strike to electricity hikes with the NMW determination was not fair to the negotiating parties,” the committee said.
Meanwhile, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has vowed to comply with the directive of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), to shut down economic activities at the seaports nationwide over the refusal of the Federal Government to increase the minimum wage and increment of electricity tariffs.
The Head of Media, MWUN, Kennedy Ikemefuna, in a statement said the port workers would join in the indefinite strike by enforcing the total lockdown of the country’s seaports commencing from tomorrow.
It was reported that the Organised Labour had on Friday declared an indefinite nationwide strike starting from Monday over the failure of the federal government to conclude on the national minimum wage and refusal to reverse the new electricity tariff.
However, the statement stated that the President-General of MWUN, Adewale Adeyanju, said the union was obligated to comply with the directive of NLC and TUC.
“The MWUN under the leadership of Comrade Adeyanju, has obliged to comply with the directive of NLC and TUC to join in the indefinite total lock down of the country commencing from Monday, the 3rd of June, 2024.
“The indefinite nationwide strike has become very imperative, given the failure of the Federal Government on the logjam and the inconclusive national minimum wage negotiation and refusal to reverse the hard biting hike in electricity tariff.
“In view of the foregoing, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria has directed its members in all ports nationwide, jetties, terminals, oil & gas platforms to effectively ensure the total compliance of the strike as directed by the NLC and TUC. This is also to serve as notice to all our concerned stakeholders in the Maritime sector,” he said.