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Tag: labour

  • We’ll resist attempt to tamper with new minimum wage, says labour

    THE Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) will oppose any move to tamper with legitimately earned salaries of workers in guise of implementing the new minimum wage, its President, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, has warned.

    Wabba’s warning followed President Muhammadu Buhari’s announcement that workers, who presently earn N30,000, would also have their salaries reviewed in accordance with the new minimum wage.

    Speaking with The Nation, Wabba rejected the President’s position, saying that there was no basis for such move.

    He said there was nowhere in the world that an introduction of new minimum wage would cause a reduction in earned wages by workers.

    Wabba said: “That is not the principle behind the minimum wage and the technical committee is simply a government committee. It is their internal mechanism. I am not so sure that minimum wage is about reducing workers’ wages.

    “If they have earned their salaries legitimately, there is no way the minimum wage can reduce it. In fact, the minimum wage is about empowering workers and improving on what they collect. I don’t think that decision is right because every salary a worker earns is legitimately negotiated on the table.

    “I think what they need to do is to reduce salaries of political office holders, those that are collecting salaries that are not appropriated or salaries that are humongous. We know the wastages are the security votes and the high cost of governance.”

    On the feasibility of government’s assurances to labour that it would transmit the Bill for the N30,000 new minimum wage to the National Assembly, Wabba said there was every reason to believe that such would happen.

    He said the information at the disposal of labour was that the National Assembly will be resuming from recess on January 16 and that they will be ready to receive the minimum wage bill on that day.

    According to Wabba, the labour movement has been assured that the lawmakers would make the opportunity available for the government to submit the bill within the stipulated period.

    He said: “What we have found out is that they will be in office on that day and that is what we are banking on. They are resuming on the January 16th and they cannot resume on that day and again proceed for recess. It is not possible.

    “We have taken that into consideration to say that on or before January 23, the government should submit the Bill. It is an agreement that was signed by three ministers – that of Finance, Budget and Planning and Labour and Employment. NLC and TUC signed on behalf of labour.”

     

  • Kogi, labour disagree over unpaid salary

    The Kogi State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has alleged that workers in the state were still owed variants of five months, 10 months, 15-24 months by the state government.

    The state chairman of NLC, Comrade Enuh Edoka, said this on Tuesday in the Government House Lokoja, while presenting the workers’ demands during a protest for the actualization of N30,000 minimum wage.

    He said the workers passed through dire situations owing to irregular payment of salaries.

    According to him: “As we are protesting now, workers are being owed five months, 10 months while some suffered 15-24 months without receiving salaries.”

    He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to implement the N30,000 new minimum wage without delay.

    He appealed to the president not to be distracted by some hiding under the guise of “Nigeria Governors Forum” to thwart the effort of the Federal Government.

    “We hereby reiterate our directive to Nigerian workers to vote out any politician or political party that refuse to pay the new national minimum wage of N30,000.

    “We shall continue to consolidate our efforts to strengthen already existing platforms and structures to give teeth to our firm resolve to remove from power anti-labour governors and political leaders in the forthcoming 2019 general election.

    “We urge government to desist from using the threat of mass sack or the barbaric policy of “no work… no pay” to break our resolve, as this would only calcify our position,” he added.

    Read Also: FG, Labour reach truce on minimum wage

    The Chief of Staff to the Kogi State Governor, Chief Edward Onoja, asserted that with workers at the local government level, salary payment has not gone below 50 percent.

    He said that the state government will collaborate with organised labour, to ensure that the minimum wage demand is given the maximum attention it deserves.

    The President, National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Kogi chapter, Comrade Tade Adeyemi, disagreed with some of the claims by government, saying workers have been receiving 25- 30 percent salaries in the last six months.

    “I want to on behalf of the entire local government workers, register our displeasure that despite our agreement, that no LGA should receive less than 54 percent, I want to point it to you that, majority of LGA workers are receiving 25-30 perceived salaries”, he said.

  • Photos: NLC holds nationwide protest over minimum wage

    The Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ) has embarked on a nationwide protest today ahead of the commencement of an indefinite strike.

    The protest rally was to create awareness on the new Minimum Wage for workers and to press home its demand for an executive draft bill on the N30,000 minimum wage to be transmitted by the presidency to the National Assembly.

    See photos below:

    Read Also: 2019: no minimum wage, no elections, NLC declares

     

     

  • Buhari to Labour: Allow us continue to fix infrastructure

    President Muhammadu Buhari has called on Labour Unions to allow his administration concentrate on fixing infrastructure in the country rather than distracting it.

    He made the remark while playing host to the Executive Committee of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in the State House, Abuja.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said “In three and a half years, we have improved tremendously on what we met. We are trying to do infrastructure.

    “No matter which part of the country you come from, you will see the efforts we are making in terms of roads; we are trying to fix rails, we are trying to do power, through the use of gas and solar. If you note what we have done in these three and a half years, you will not regret voting this administration into power.”
    President Buhari also said that Nigeria was doing very well in agriculture as the country was about to attain food sufficiency and security.

    While calling on the students to continue to plead with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the President assured that he will speak with the lecturers’ body “so that they don’t encroach on your efforts to qualify in time.”

    President Buhari said that he had explained in details while presenting the 2019 budget estimates, the earnings and expenditure and therefore expected the elite to understand the position of the government on certain issues, adding that it is the responsibility of the government to look after the employed as well as the unemployed.

    The President urged the youths to start preparing themselves to lead the country.

    He said “There is a tendency for you to think that you can do better than anybody, but it is very good for you to know the facts that leadership entails.”
    He assured Labour leaders that, having been in positions of leadership at various stages in life, and with the experience, he means well for Nigerians and indeed, workers, and should be allowed to fix infrastructure so that more Nigerians could be taken out of the poverty cycle.

    “I am totally loyal to this country. Whatever I do is in the interest of the ordinary people especially those who do not have the benefit of being educated like you, and are just trusting whoever is leading them,” he said.

    Read Also: Police parade suspects for murder, cultism in Osun

    Buhari expressed gratitude to the students for appreciating some of the things his administration has been able to put in place and called on them to mobilise support for government, as it strives to make Nigeria a better place.

    Speaking earlier, the students, led by the president, Comrade Danielson Bamidele Akpan, had expressed appreciation of the efforts of the administration, especially in the transformation of the transportation sector as well as the decimation of terrorists in the Northeast.

    They, however, requested the government to intervene in the incessant strikes in the education sector; involve more youths in governance, and look into the plight of students in different institutions who have been expelled for ‘political’ reasons.

  • Anxiety as Labour gets set for minimum wage strike

    There is anxiety in government circles over Labour’s plan to go on strike.

    The action is to push the demand for a new minimum wage.

    But the Federal Government has invited workers’ representatives to a meeting  tomorrow in a move to avert the impending industrial action.

    Labour is angry that the Presidency is yet to transmit the New National Minimum Wage Bill to the National Assembly.

    Labour has demanded N30, 000 for the least paid worker.

    The federal and state governments are offering N24, 000 and N22, 500.

    Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) General Secretary Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson told The Nation on phone yesterday that Labour will not embark on an industrial action secretly.

    According to him, the workers’ union has asked its state councils to hold rallies in city centres beginning from January 8 to sensitise Nigerians on the looming action.

    Ozo-Eson said: “The NEC approved that the protests should hold in all state capitals and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja  on 8th January, 2019, and mandates all industrial unions and state councils to fully mobilise workers and coordinate with other labour unions for this mother of all protests.

    “The excuse that the National Assembly is on break does not hold water as the report of the tripartite committee has been with the President for about two months.

    “Was the National Assembly on recess when the report was submitted? Didn’t the House of Representatives adopt a resolution calling on the President to transmit the bill?

    “The notice expired on 31st December, 2018. When it was given, was the National Assembly on recess?

    On whether there were moves to stop the impending strike, Ozo-Esan said: “We don’t do strike in secret. When we want to do our strike, we will publicly inform Nigerians. What we have directed state councils all over the country to do is that on January 8, they should hold sensitisation and mobilisation rallies across the country.

    “That we have put in the public domain through our communique. When we want to give another directive, we will do so.”

    But the government has invited the Labour leadership to a meeting on Friday at the office of the Labour & Employment Minister, Dr. Chris Ngige the office of the Minister of on Friday to address issues raised by Labour and to brief them on efforts being made by the government.

    A statement signed by the Director of Press in the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Samuel Olowokoore, reads “Towards nipping in the bud threat of national industrial action by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) over the transmission of the New National Minimum Wage to the National Assembly, the Minister of Labour & Employment Sen. Chris Ngige, is scheduled to hold a meeting with the Executives of the Organised Labour”.

    The Nation learnt that, the ministers of Finance and that Budget & National Planning are also expected at the meeting scheduled to begin from 10.30am.

    Dr Ngige was quoted as saying that the Attorney-General of the Federation was studying the draft bill submitted by the tripartite committee along with the report to the President with a view to coming up with an executive bill which will be transmitted to National Assembly.

    It was also learnt that the government may have reached out to some influential Nigerians and former Labour leaders, including All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole to prevail on workers to drop the threat strike.

    Oshiomhole recently threw his weight behind Labour in its quest for have a new National minimum wage, saying Nigeria can afford to pay workers what he described as living wage.

    He told The Nation on a chat yesterday: “This is in spite of the unimpeachable tripartite process leading to the agreement by the social partners on the new national minimum wage.

    “It is unfortunate that the Federal Government is yet to transmit to the National Assembly an executive bill for the enactment of N30, 000 as the new national minimum wage.

    “Government’s dilly-dallying on the issue has strained government-labour relations with a potential for a major national strike which could just be days away.

    “I want to appeal to the government to do the needful by urgently transmitting the bill on the new national minimum wage to the National Assembly.

    “We also would like to use this same opportunity to urge workers to fully mobilise for a prolonged national strike and enforce their right.”

    Explaining the inevitability of the strike, Ayuba called on all Nigerians and businesses to understand and support it. He, however, assured workers that their labour, patience and diligence would not be in vain.

    Wabba said the NLC leadership remains committed to ensure that workers get just and fair wages in a decent work environment appropriate to their well-being.

    Besides, he restated the commitment of Labour to ensuring social protection for its members.

    He said: “The new year presents great opportunities for workers, pensioners, civil society allies and their friends and families to put their numbers to good use.

    “This is by voting out, not on the basis of tribe or religion but purely policy, any candidate that cannot serve their interest.

    “In the year that is ahead of us, the NLC remains unequivocally committed to the national and workers’ goals which include the campaign for industrialisation, against selective enforcement of “No work, no pay” policy of government, among others.”

  • Labour rejects proposed technical committee on minimum wage

    •Govt gets 10 days ultimatum to pass report to National Assembly

    Labour leaders have rejected Federal Government’s plan to set up another high-powered technical committee on the new national minimum wage.

    The leaders of the union, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC), stated this in a communiqué jointly signed and issued at the end of national leadership meeting of organised labour in Nigeria held in Lagos yesterday. According to the labour leaders, the government’s plan is diversionary and a delay tactics.

    They said almost two months after the submission of the report by the national minimum wage tripartite committee, which included a draft bill, no bill has been submitted to the National Assembly for passage into law.

    Read also: Navy jails three ratings for theft

    NLC President Ayuba Wabba said: “As far as we are concerned, all the issue has been addressed by the tripartite committee. This one is a delay tactic by the Federal Government and it will not work.”                                           ULC President Joe Ajaero said it was not the duty of the Federal Government to know how the states or private sector would implement the minimum wage.

    “Federal Government should allow the labour union in each state to discuss with their respective state government on how to start the implementation”, Ajaero said.

    The labour leaders explained that Federal Government is expected to transmit the new national minimum wage bill to the National Assembly on or before December 31, 2018.

    They noted that the Federal Government is planning to set up a high-powered technical committee, which is alien to the tripartite process and International Labor Organisation (ILO) convention on national minimum wage mechanism.

    They urged workers to be vigilant and prepared to campaign and vote against candidates and political parties, who were not supportive of the implementations of the new minimum wage.

    As for the TUC President, Bobboi Kaigama, he said if government fails to transmit the bill to the National Assembly for implementation on or before December 31, labour will re-open the suspended strike.

    “Organised Labour will not guarantee industrial peace and harmony, if after December 31 2018, the draft bill is not transmitted to the National Assembly,” he said.

  • Labour plans naming, shaming of debtor-governors

    NIGERIA Labour Congress (NLC) President Comrade Ayuba Wabba yesterday warned state governors owing salaries of their workers and pensioners that international disgrace and embarrassment await them in the countries they visit henceforth.

    Wabba, who is the newly elected president of International Trade Union Confederation, the global trade union body, said workers across the globe would be mobilised to embarrass any governor who travel to other countries without first paying salaries of workers and their pensioners.

    He said Nigerian governments have no basis to treat workers and pensioners the way they are being treated because the country has enough resources to take care of its people.

    Speaking at the 2018 International Pensioners Day celebration in Abuja, Wabba also told the governors that it was criminal for them to deduct pension contributions from workers’ salaries and failing to remit same to the pension fund administrators.

    He asked Nigerian workers, especially those working in the nation’s airport to be on the watch out for such governors and inform him accordingly of the countries such governors are heading to.

    Wabba said workers in such countries would promptly be mobilised to embarrass and chase away such governors on arrival in such countries.

    “With our new position offering leadership to all workers across the world, because ITUC represents 207 million workers in 163 countries with 331 Labour centres.

    “I have told our members clearly that any governor that refuses to pay salaries and use our resources to travel and enjoy himself elsewhere, they should be sure that they will be confronted anywhere they go.

    Read also: PDP: we’re committed to peaceful elections

    “In my capacity as ITUC President, we have already issued that notice. Just be on the watch out. Our workers at the airport should be on the watch out for any of them not paying salaries, if they are leaving the shores of our country; just let us know the country they are going to and we will mobilise workers over there and from the airport, they will be disgraced and chased away.

    “That is the way to go because Nigerians must demand for accountability, transparency and the rule of law. We have more than enough and we are not a poor country. We are the leading economy in Africa and have the resources. It is all about mismanagement with few people looting our resources.

    “Looting is no longer done in millions, but in billions and you wonders what the person will do with it. We should use our resources to build our country and make life bearable for all Nigerians. I want to thank you for all the sacrifice you have made to build our nation.”

    He hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for paying 50 per cent of benefits of Nigeria Airway retirees.

    “Many of them have died, but this is worthy of commendation. However he should also look at the balance and the same gesture should be extended to all other retirees,” he said.

    Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) National President Dr. Abel Afolayan said pensioners have gone through thick and thin in the process of payment of their retirement benefits.

    The leadership of the union, he said, is determined to end the pains, tears and unbearable sufferings arising from payment of pensioners’ legitimate entitlements at the federal and state levels.

     

  • Minimum wage: Fayemi canvasses upward review of federal allocation

    Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, on Saturday said that the Federal Government needed to address the current revenue allocation formula, to enable state governments pay the new minimum wage being requested by workers.

    Fayemi spoke when he received the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Ayuba Wabba, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office, in Ado-Ekiti.

    He said that Ekiti, which received one of the lowest allocations in the country, would require extra N2bn monthly to be able to pay.

    The governor, who explained that the N30,000 minimum wage was not a comfortable living wage for workers, said he was convinced that governors would pay if the Federal Government creates the enabling environment for them to do so.

    He, however suggested a collective approach by labour leadership, the government and the general public.

    Fayemi said the issue of affordability was key in paying the proposed minimum wage

    The governor said Ekiti had always been paying above the national minimum wage as the state
    was  paying N19, 350 as against the N18,000 minimum.

    He, however, said that for Ekiti State to pay the new N30,000 minimum wage, it would need an additional N2 billion in addition to the current wage bill of N2.6 billion, totalling N4.6bn.

    This, he said was the case in many other states, disclosing that Ekiti earns averagely N3bn federal allocation monthly.

    “I am not holding brief for
    the governors because I am the youngest among them, having only come to office barely a month ago.

    ”So, I cannot speak on what has transpired in your negotiation in the course of this tripartite committee,” he said

    Fayemi said if he were, however, to put hinself in the shoes of his colleagues, giving the fact on ground in Ekiti, he believed it was only a question of affordability, ability to pay.

    “As long as we have the revenue allocation formula that we have in the country, even in states where you have willing partners and comrades that are not going to contend the N30,000 figure, if nothing is done about current revenue allocation, this will be tough on states.

    “In fact, this N30,000 is not even enough, Mr President, I don’t know anyone who can really live
    comfortably on N30,000, let alone the N18,000 we are currently paying.

    “I think we need a collective approach to this beyond the game of numbers.

    “The workers are very critical components to the productive base of our country, because it is the human capital and it has to be motivated human capital.

    ” It has to be an enthusiastic human capital that can deliver the goods to the populace,” Fayemi said.

    The NLC President, who met with the governor together with some national and Ekiti State labour union leaders, had solicited the cooperation of all governors in the payment of the N30,000 minimum wage.

    He said that all states should be able to afford it.

    Wabba also lauded Fayemi for his administration’s demonstrated love for the workers’ welfare.

    He commended him on the recent release of N200m for teachers’ car and housing loans as well as the abolishing of development levies in public primary and secondary schools in the state, among others.

    “We know your pedigree and I am not surprised about this. We know you are a friend of workers.

    ”In 2012, you were the first to pay the N18,000 minimum wage in the South West and second in
    Nigeria. You even paid N19,300,” Wabba said.

    The NLC boss stressed the need for state governments to ensure transparency and accountability, to
    ensure that what is due to workers are given to them.

    He urged the state governments to block all forms of leakages that may bar them from paying workers what is due to them.

    Wabba expressed optimism that government would take all
    necessary steps at ensuring that the new minimum wage is paid. (NAN)

  • Minimum wage: Hope brightens for workers

    Labour has scaled the first hurdle in its quest for a N30, 000 minimum wage. The committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari has upheld its position.

    For workers, it was cheery news. Yesterday, the Tripartite Committee on Nation Minimum Wage upheld Labour’s demand for  N30, 000 for the least paid worker. President Muhammadu Buhari, who received the committee’s report at the Villa in Abuja, pledged his commitment to the recommendation.

    The Ms. Ama Pepple-led committee comprising the government (federal and states), Labour and Organised Private Sector (OPS) proposed N30, 000 in its report to the President.

    The President promised to send a New Minimum Wage Bill to the National Assembly after presenting the proposal to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the Council of State (CoS).

    He warned workers against being used as political tools.

    The presidential endorsement came after Labour shelved its planned nationwide strike over the matter to ensure its amicable resolution.

    The submission of the report was a relief for labour leaders, who had hectic time selling their position to the federal and state governments.

    The Federal Government proposed N24, 000 and the states, through the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) N22, 500.

     

    MAN, LCCI react

     

    On the heels of the recommendation, MAN’s

    Director-General Segun Ajayi-Kadir said the association was in full in support of the implementation of a new minimum wage notwithstanding the difference in the operational modes of the private and public sectors.

    He, however, said the implementation of a new minimum wage will be difficult for the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs). Ajayi-Kadir said it will be easy for bigger enterprises as many of them have been paying higher.

    He said: “Some chief executives of MSMEs may not be able to take home N30, 000 monthly. How much more their staff? They may adopt some model which may not be favourable to their workers as they can resort to inviting some layers of staff only when they are needed.

    “In our advocacy we have consistently complained that our warehouses are stocked with low consumer apathy. The new wage will put money in the hands Nigerians”.

    He said the OPS will be looking forward to stability in the labour force.

    LCCI Director-General Muda Yusuf who said the private sector has been paying above the minimum expressed the fear that the Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) may not meet up with the wage increase.

    He said: “There may be different challenges for the SMEs as they may adopt different models for engagement. Rather than keep all their staff, they may rationalise them by only inviting those that they need at a particular time. The big corporations have nothing to worry about as they are already paying the minimum wage.”

    He commended the government for working successfully with the private sector and labour to arrive at an acceptable figure and averting crises.

     

    Labour unions hailed

     

    The Ebonyi State chapter of the NLC commended leaders of the various labour unions for their resilience in the struggle for a living wage for workers.

    State chairman Leonard Nkah described the successful negotiation of a new wage by the leadership of organised labour as a demonstration of good virtues and strength of character.

    He, therefore, called on other relevant authorities to expedite action to get the new wage passed into law to enable Nigerian workers to enjoy a living wage.

    Nkah said: “The organised labour in Ebonyi just ended its meeting this (yesterday) morning, whereby we extolled the virtues and strength of character exhibited by our national leadership, including the TUC, ULC and NLC.

    “We commended them for holding on tenaciously on the new national minimum wage until government came around to accept what had earlier been agreed upon.

    “So, we are very happy and we praise the leadership of organised labour in Nigeria for being undaunted in the struggle.”

    He opined that once the new national minimum wage was signed into law, that state governors were bound to pay.

    His words: “Once the new figure is signed into law, nobody not even the governors, has the powers to say that they cannot pay.

    “Anybody who refuses to pay will be going against the law and we don’t envisage that any governor will refuse to pay the new wage once it is signed into law.

    “In our own state, the governor has stated his willingness to pay once any amount is agreed upon. Once it comes out, organised labour in various states will approach their various state governors for implementation.

    “So, we are hopeful and we are not being negative that governors may not pay the new wage once signed, but if it happens we will rise to the occasion.”

     

    Buhari: we’ll transmit Executive Bill to National Assembly for passage

    The President’s remarks after receiving the National Minimum Wage Report from the tripartite committee yesterday at the State House in Abuja.

    On 27th November 2017, I inaugurated the National Minimum Wage Committee with a mandate to recommend a new minimum wage for workers.

    This exercise became necessary for many reasons. The last review took place in 2011. We all know since then, the prices of key consumables have increased and the most vulnerable of our workers are struggling to make ends meet.

    Since 2011, many changes have taken place. Nigeria rebased its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to become the largest economy in Africa. We reported very strong GDP growth rates and exceptional performance of our capital markets.  However, these reported successes did not flow into the pockets and homes of majority of Nigerians.

    In the last three years, we focused on correcting this deficiency. We are working to create a diversified and inclusive economy. We are pushing to clear pension arrears owed to our retired workers with the limited resources available to us.

    We supported state governments to pay workers salary. And of course, we set up a committee in order to review the minimum wage of workers.

    In constituting this committee, we took into account the need for all stakeholders to be adequately represented – the government, the private sector and most importantly, the workers. Our goal was to get an outcome that was consensual.

    From the outset, we knew the committee had a difficult task ahead of it. But at the same time, we were also confident that the patriotic and professional background of its members would produce realistic, fair and implementable recommendations that will be considered by both the executive and legislative arms of government.

    I am not surprised that the committee has worked for close to one year. I am also not surprised that on a few occasions, the debates got heated and sometimes, these differences came out.

    What is truly inspiring is that, in almost all instances of disagreements, the committee members always came back to the negotiating table with a common goal of improving the welfare of workers.

    On behalf of all Nigerians today, I want to thank you for your commitment and sacrifice in getting us to where we are today.

    In the past few days, I have been receiving regular updates on your deliberations. And today, I am pleased that you have completed your work in a peaceful and non-confrontational manner. The entire nation is grateful to you all.

    The committee chairman highlighted some of the challenges encountered during your deliberations, especially as it relates to having a consensus position acceptable by all parties.

    I understand, on the government side, the concerns raised were around affordability – that today many states struggle to meet their existing salary requirements.

    On the side of labour, the points raised focused on the need for any increase to be meaningful.

    In a way, both arguments are valid. I want to assure you all that we will immediately put in place the necessary machinery that will close out these open areas. Our plan is to transmit the Executive Bill to the National Assembly for passage within the shortest possible time.

    I am fully committed to having a new National Minimum Wage Act in the very near future.

    Let me use this opportunity to recognise the leadership of the Organised Labour and private sector as well as representatives of state and federal governments for all your hard work. The fact that we are here today, is a notable achievement.

    As the Executive Arm commences its review of your submission, we will continue to engage you all in closing any open areas presented in this report. I therefore would like to ask for your patience and understanding in the coming weeks.

    May I therefore, employ workers and their leaders not to allow themselves to be used as political weapons.

     

    The tripartite committee

    The Tripartite National Minimum Wage Negotiating Committee had its membership drawn up from the public sector (federal and state governments); Labour (NLC, TUC and ULC); the private sector (the largest private employer group – the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines & Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Nigerian Association of Small & Medium Enterprises (NASME).

    The panel, which was inaugurated by the President at the Council Chamber of the State House Villa in Abuja on November 27, last year 2017, was chaired by Ms. Pepple, a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF) and one-time Housing Minister. Labour & Employment Minister Chris Ngige was named as deputy chairman and the Chairman of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Chief Richard Egbule, as secretary.

    In his remarks at the inauguration, President Buhari said: “Government’s decision after considering your final recommendation will be sent as an Executive Bill to the National Assembly for it to undergo appropriate legislative scrutiny before passage into law.

    “As is evident by the membership of the committee, state governors and private sector employers are part of this process. This will ensure ease of implementation of a new minimum wage nationwide.

    “I am hopeful that the principles of full consultation with social partners and their direct participation would be utilised by the committee, bearing in mind the core provisions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Minimum Wage Fixing Convention No. 131 and Minimum Wage Fixing Machinery Convention No.26 (ratified by Nigeria).

    “Accordingly, conditions of genuine social dialogue should prevail in the spirit of tripartite and collective bargaining agreements. I, therefore, enjoin you all to, collectively bargain in good faith, have mutual recognition for each other and always in a spirit of give and take.”

    Besides Ngige, other representatives of the Federal Government are: Budget & National Planning Minister Senator Udoma Udo Udoma; Finance Minister Mrs. Zainab Ahmed; HoCSF Mrs. Winifred E. Oyo-Ita and the Permanent Secretary (General Services) Office, Office of the SGF, Dr. Roy Ugo.

    The NGF was represented by governors Rauf Aregbesola (Osun, Southwest); Rochas Okorocha (Imo, Southeast); Hassan Dankwambo (Gombe, Northeast); Nyesom Wike (Rivers, Southsouth); Simon Lalong (Plateau, Northcentral) and Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi, Northwest). The NGF’s Forum’s Director-General A. B. Okauru, was an observer status.

    On the trade union side, are: NLC President Ayuba Wabba; Peters Adeyemi (NLC); Kiri Mohammed (NLC); Amechi Asugwuni (NLC) and Peter Ozo-Eson (NLC), the TUC was represented by Bobboi Bala Kaigama (President); Sunday Olusoji Salako; Alade Bashir Lawal; Igwe Achese and Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) president.

    On the employers’ side were: NECA’s Director-General Olusegun Oshinowo; Timothy Olawale (NECA); Chuma Nwankwo (NECA); Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI) Director-General Mrs. Olubunmi Adekoje; Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN) Kaduna East branch Chairman Ahmed Ladan Gobir; Francis Oluwagbenro (MAN); NACCIMA Kano branch President Hajia Muheeba Dankaka and NASME President Degun Agboade.

    According to its mandate, the panel was billed to conclude its work and submit its recommendation to the Presidency for onward transmission in form of an Executive Bill to the National Assembly for ratification in the third quarter.

  • Labour, FG strike new minimum wage deal, to be revealed Tuesday

    Labour leaders, who have called off a planned nationwide strike, have agreed a new national minimum wage at the end of negotiations with a Tripartite Committee, set up by the Federal government.

    The agreed figure will be kept under wraps until 4.15 pm on Tuesday, when it will be revealed in a report to be presented to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, spoke to newsmen at the end of the Tripartite Committee meeting on the new National Minimum wage meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He said the National Minimum Wage Negotiating committee has concluded its assignment and agreement has been reached and also documents have been signed.

    “The report will be submitted to Mr President by today and therefore, having reached this position, the Organised Labour also decided that the proposed strike is hereby suspended.

    ” Therefore, we thought this should be communicated appropriately without also divulging this information as mutual agreement has been reached,” he said.

    Ms Amma People, Chairman of the Tripartite Committee also noted that the assignment of the committee has been concluded.

    “We are going to present our report to Mr President today at 4:15 ,pm and he will reveal the figure that we have recommended, ” she said.

    Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary of the Government of the Federation commended members of the committee for their time and commitment on the processes of recommending the new minimum wage.

    “I am confident that government will give expeditious consideration of the report when submitted tomorrow to Mr President. And very soon the processes will be put in place to truly actualise your recommendations so that the status of our working populace will be enhanced and they would receive appropriate and commensurate payments for the services they offer to our nation and to the different sectors of our economy, ” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the organised Labour had threatened to commence nationwide strike on Nov. 6 over government rejection of a N30,000 minimum wage. Government offered N24,000, which labour also rejected.