By Nwabueze Umeji-Akabogu
The protracted minimum wage negotiation between the Federal government and Organized Labour finally ended on 18th July, 2024 with the agreement of a new minimum wage of N70,000 for the Nigerian workers both in Public and private sectors. The agreement was facilitated by President Bola Tinubu amidst spontaneous celebration by both the government officials and Labour leaders for achieving the “great feat” after rather protracted and intense negotiations.
The approved new minimum wage of N70,000 apparently was a compromise solution to the rather difficult and seemingly endless negotiation between the Federal government who had earlier offered a minimum wage of N62,000 and organized labour that demanded N250,000 minimum wage.
It would be recalled that leaders of organized labour had earlier called for a general strike to press home their demand for a living wage which lasted for only one day even as the country was virtually shut down consequent upon the government’s refusal to acced to labour’s demand for what they called a living wage for the Nigerian workers who were bearing the brunt of the prevailing economic hardship ravaging the masses of the country.
It is pertinent to note that the tripartite Committee which was earlier set up by the Federal government to negotiate with labour on the thorny issue of a new minimum wage had ended in deadlock after several unsuccessful negotiations and which witnessed occasional walkouts by Labour leaders who accused the government of intransigence and insincerity on the part of its negotiators.
Suffice it to say that the apparent inability of the Committee to reach an early agreement with labour had necessitated the intervention of the Presidency to end the lingering empasse hence the direct meetings between President Tinubu and Organized Labour leaders which eventually produced a final and acceptable agreement by both parties.
And as at press time, President Tinubu had already transmitted the bill to the National Assembly for passage into law for a new minimum wage of N70,000. It was reported that the National Assembly had since passed the new minimum wage into law with what could be described as lighting speed. It is instructive to mention also that one of the key or important areas of the agreement was the proviso that the periodic review of minimum wage would be carried out every three years instead of every five years as is the case presently. According to press report, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had assented to the new minimum wage law of N70,000 on Monday 29th July, 2024.
However, no mention was made as to the effective date of the new minimum wage but it is generally assumed that its implementation would take effect from May 2024 as the current minimum wage of N30,000 has since lapsed or expired at the end of April 2024.
It is a sad commentary however, that the very poor handling and lack of seriousness on the part of the leadership of organized labour throughout the period of the negotiation had left much to be desired even as officials of the federal government had taken them for a ride as toothless bull dogs that would only bark but could not bite.
It’s regrettable to observe also that the general conduct and lackluster handling of the negotiations by the leadership of organized labour could rightly be described as a monumental disaster and flagrant betrayal of trust of the Nigerian masses who had always looked up to Labour as their messiah and defender of the downtrodden in society, otherwise how could any right thinking person explain the rationale behind the clueless and myopic Labour leadership’s posture on its original demands of N1m and later adjusted to N461,000 and finally arrived at N250,000 only to accept a meagre or paltry N70,000 as a minimum wage which was unrealistic based on the current excruciating hardship and mass poverty in the country.
It is instructive to mention also that during the glorious era of strong labour movement led by the likes of the legendary late Michael Imuodu of blessed memory, Hassan Sumonu and lately the indefatigable and irrepressible Adams Oshiomhole among others. Nigerian workers and the poor masses witnessed a vibrant, courageous, and dedicated Labour movement and its leadership that confronted the tyrannical and anti-people governments and effectively negotiated a better deal for the Nigerian workers. The highly patriotic and selfless Labour leaders during that memorable era effectively deployed the legitimate instrument of strike action to bring the recalcitrant and unpopular governments to their knees and forcing them to accept Labour’s demands. Labour was indeed in the vanguard for the emancipation of the Nigerian workers and poor masses in the country during the dark era.
It is a matter of deep regret therefore that the present crop of Labour leaders grossly lack the rudiments and qualities of selfless and true leadership of Labour movement in engaging the intransigent and insensitive government of the day on labour issues. Rather, the present labour leadership seem to be self centred and easily compromised by the powerful government functionaries who more often than not brazenly refuse to implement the agreements already reached with Labour leadership, and who on their own part always readily and beggarly submit themselves to endless and fruitless negotiations. The present “bread and butter” labour leadership are simply naïve and always afraid and incapable of deploying the legitimate instrument of strike action which is the only language unpopular and intransigent governments all over the world seem to understand.
It is needless to emphasize the point that the agreed new minimum wage of N70,000 is totally unrealistic, unwarranted insult on the intelligence of the Nigerian workers and untenable in the face of the current untold hardship and deprivations prevalent in the country. Furthermore, no concrete and immediate measures towards alleviating the terrible sufferings of the masses were contained in the so-called agreement between government and organized Labour as inflation rate and high cost of basic food items in the markets had risen astronomically with no sign of abating in the nearest future. And yet, the cost of governance and the outrageous lifestyle of the political class who had continued to live in extravagance and opulence has become intolerable and unacceptable.
The recently reported slashing of salaries by the Honourable members of the House of Representatives by 50% as a demonstration of sacrifice towards ameliorating the hardship in the country was merely a drop in the ocean and did not go far enough but could simply be regarded as a mere political gimmick which was grossly incapable of remedying the dire economic situation facing the country. It’s extremely scandalous and the height of gross insensitivity to say the least, that the Federal government had the temerity to embark on the so called renovation of the official residence of the Vice President Kashim Shettima with the humongous sum of N91bn as well as the acquisition of a new presidential jet and Yatch for the President at this most difficult and uncertain times when the poor masses are currently undergoing terrible and excruciating economic hardship unprecedented in the history of the country.
There is obviously something fundamentally wrong with the psyche or mentality of our so-called leaders who seem to be grossly lacking in conscience and the spirit of empathy and humanity for the hapless masses who are currently wallowing in abject poverty and misery in the midst of plenty in their own God-given country.
It has become imperative that all political office holders must make adequate personal sacrifices by slashing their salaries and other personal emoluments by 50% towards alleviating the unprecedented hardship in the country.
In addition, the high cost of governance at all levels must equally be reduced drastically. The current rehabilitation of the moribund refineries in the country must be tackled with utmost urgency even as those refineries coming on stream would obviously go a long way towards reducing the high cost of goods and services, thereby checkmating the unacceptable runaway and biting inflation in the country. Again, the immediate provision of buses and trucks by the Federal Government to the States and local governments would significantly reduce the present cost of transportation of goods and services and quickly bring down the cost of basic food items in our local markets, thereby reducing the current severe hunger and diseases ravaging the poor masses. These are the concrete and urgent measures which the Federal Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must immediately embark upon in the true spirit of the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu’s administration. The time of empty rhetoric is over and now is the time for decisive action to save the suffering Nigerian masses from the worsening harsh economic situation and uncertainties in the country.
• Umeji-Akabogu (JP) writes from Enugwu-Ukwu, Anambra State