Organised Labour has rejoined the tripartite committee discussions on the national minimum wage, following a contentious Zoom meeting last week where they walked out after the Federal Government proposed N48,000 as the new minimum wage. The union had initially demanded N615,000, deeming the government's offer as insincere. This decision to return was reached at a joint meeting of the National Executive Councils of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
Labour centres have insisted that minimum wage negotiations must conclude by May 31 and have instructed their state councils to issue ultimatums to governors who have not been paying the existing N30,000 minimum wage. The affected states include Anambra, Ebonyi, Kogi, and Zamfara. The union emphasized in their communiqué that the demands made by Nigerian workers are non-negotiable and urged the government to resolve these issues to maintain industrial peace.
In addition to the minimum wage talks, the NEC condemned the recent unilateral increase in electricity tariffs, calling it unjust and burdensome given the current economic hardships. They demanded an immediate reversal of the hike and the elimination of the apartheid-like categorization into bands. The NEC has given the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Federal Government until the end of May 2024 to address these demands.
The NEC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the interests and welfare of workers, urging all affiliate unions, workers, and Civil Society Organisations across Nigeria to remain united and steadfast. They warned of potential peaceful protests and industrial actions if the government's demands are not met by the stipulated deadlines. The communiqué concluded by pledging unwavering support for the rights and interests of Nigerian workers.
