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  • Minimum Wage: FG urges organised labour to accept offer

    The Federal Government has urged Organised Labour to accept the new minimum wage proposal considering the capacity and ability of the government and the private sector to pay.

    Minister of labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, made the call when he received the new Director-General of Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Mr Timothy Olawale, on a visit to his office on Friday in Abuja.

    Ngige had a few days ago, while labour leaders were threatening to call out workers for full strike over the minimum wage issue, announced that the Federal Government had offered N24, 000 to the workers.

    But, the workers’ leaders countered, saying that N30, 000 was the amount agreed on by the committee saddled with the responsibility.

    The minister told NECA DG that it was imperative for organised labour to accept the proposed figure instead of the N30, 000 in line with social dialogue and the overall interest of the nation.

    He appealed to NECA to weigh its influence on the organisers labour to accede to the new wage offer mutually agreeable to all the social partners.

    According to him, Nigeria cannot afford rounds of labour crisis in this country, so it is imperative for organised labour to accept the new national minimum wage figure.

    “We need to arrive at a figure which the employers can afford to pay as an employee cannot fix a figure for the employer.

    “Rather, it must be based on collective bargaining and mutual agreement by the tripartite partners.

    “It is not a function of moving motions or voting at the National Tripartite Negotiation Committee to insist that the figure must be as the organised labour appears to make it look.

    “There is, therefore, absolutely no need to heat up the polity,” he said.

    He noted that the government’s proposed new wage was based on critical facts and indices incapable of causing disequilibrium in the economy or upturning the national social order.

    The minister further charged the new NECA boss to exceed the impressive record of his predecessor, reminding him that he had “enormous task ahead of you’’.

    “The need for the establishment of more NECA offices across the country cannot be over-emphasised so that more employers’ associations can register with you.

    “This is in line with the focus of our labour administration as well as in tandem with the economic policies of the present administration.

    “The numerous private sector employers who are informal need to be brought on board the formalized private sector employers’ body,’’ he said.

    Ngige urged NECA to ensure that private sector employers who were its members and those not yet registered but were defaulting in payment of the existing national minimum wage of N18, 000 complied with the law.

    He also commended the efforts of the immediate past D G of the association, Mr Olusegun Oshinowo, for contributing immensely to industrial peace and harmony in the private sector.

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    He lauded him for ensuring that Nigeria was brought back to the Governing Board of the International Labour Organisation (ILO)’s employer section.

    Earlier, Oshinowo had said that his successor was the best man to take over the mantle of the leadership of the association.

    He noted that since the formation of the group, a DG was for the first time sourced from the organisation.

    Oshinowo commended the minister for his open-door policy in spite of opposing positions they had had on issues in the past.
    On his part, Olawale, also lauded Ngige for the privilege of the visit and promised to live up to expectation.

  • Federal Govt, Labour head for showdown over Minimum Wage

    The Federal Government and organised Labour are heading on a collision course over the minimum wage.

    Labour went on a warning strike last month t press the government to revive the tripartite meeting on the new wage proposal.

    The strike was called off after an Ocotber 4 date was picked by the government for the resumption of talks.

    Yesterday, Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige told reporters after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Villa that the government cannot afford to pay more than N24,000 up from the current N18,000, as minimum wage.

    But Labour reiterated its resolve not to agree with anything less than N30,000.

    Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Ayuba Wabba said:  “We as organsied labour will be meeting tomorrow (today) in Lagos after which we will brief newsmen on the outcome of our decision.”

    United Labour Congress (ULC) President Joe Ajaero said organised labour had been taken for granted by Ngige.

    Ajaero said with the way things are going on the new minimum wage, it might lead to an indefinite industrial strike.

    “We as members of the ULC, we are not happy, initially we were asking for N90, 000 as the new National Minimum Wage for workers.

    “But due to the Organised Private Sector’s appeal to the organised labour, we decided to fix it at N30, 000 for affordability.

    “Right now if you look at what economy is talking about, you will find out the N30, 000 is nothing to write home about.

    “Are these not agencies of government that are charging such, why would the Federal Government says that they cannot pay N30, 000.

    He called on the Federal Government to have a rethink by ensuring that the agreement reached by the Tripartite Committee on the New National Minimum Wage was approved and implemented to avoid industrial action in the country.

    President, Trade Union Congress (TUC) Bobbio Kaigama, said the organised labour was waiting to be called by the Chairman, Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage for the signing of the agreement.

    He added: “Who said we have not concluded our meeting. Who said that the Federal Government cannot pay the agreed figure.”

    Ngige added: “Minimum Wage may be understood to mean the minimum sum payable to a worker for work performed or services rendered, within a given period, whether calculated on the basis of time or output, which may not be reduced either by individual or collective agreement, which is guaranteed by law and which may be fixed in such a way as to cover the minimum needs of the worker and his or her family, in the light of national economic and social considerations that should be taken into account in determining their rates.

    “In practice, National Minimum Wage in Nigeria is a conglomeration of total remuneration due to a worker and does not refer to only the basic wage.

    “In other words, National Minimum Wage is inclusive of the basic pay and any other allowance due to a worker, and is hence, his or her remuneration.

    “Employers, whether in Private or Public Sector, can pay more than the National Minimum Wage based on “ability to pay”.

  • No agreement yet on minimum wage, says Ngige

    •FEC okays N5.2b for roads in Sokoto

    THE Federal Government has denied a report claiming that N30,000 minimum wage has been agreed upon for the new national minimum wage.

    Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige gave the indication at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He was with Minister of Information Lai Mohammed and the Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing Suleiman Hassan.

    According to Ngige, the Federal Government has not shifted ground on its N24,000 proposal.

    He said the issue of minimum wage is backed by law, which is binding on all.

    The minister said state governments, the private sector and the organised labour proposed N20,000, N25,000 and N30,000 as national minimum wage separately.

    The minister said the Federal Government would keep discussing with the organised labour and other stakeholders informally to arrive at a figure.

    He said: “We reconvened for the minimum wage committee on October 4 and 5, and we had adequate representation of all the three partners. Tripartite means the three groups that are negotiating; the first group is the organised labour, the second is the organised private sector and the third group is the government, which is called the authentic authority by the ILO.

    “So, we met and if you could remember the contentious issue as per that meeting was for figures to be fixed and we had all proposed our figures. But throughout the negotiations, figures were adjusted; the labour unions adjusted their figures and came down to N30,000 per month, organised private sectors also adjusted their figures from N25,000, which they had earlier proposed to N30,000.

    “Governors had their own figure, which was different from the figure of the Federal Government; both the Federal Government figure and that of the state governors were also presented and we discussed because the cardinal principle of wage fixing mechanism under the ILO is the ability to pay because the issue of minimum wage under convention 131, the fixing mechanism takes that into account and also says that there must be a consensual agreement.”

    Ngige added: “So, we have a figure of the Federal Government and the state governments have theirs. The state governments’ figure at the last time was N20,000, the Federal Government had a figure of N24,000 and that was where we all stood.

    “This negotiation took into account these irreducible offers on the different governments but we could not arrive at a consensus. Even though we adjourned our meeting and said we will put up a report that will reflect this position. We are still continuing to discuss informally to see if we can arrive at a common figure.

    “National Salaries and Incomes and Wages Commission has also done for the government and presented to the economic management team. So, discussions are still ongoing and that is where we are.

    Suleiman Hassan said FEC approved N5.2 billion for roads in Sokoto State.

     

    Labour: minister being economical with truth

    The organised labour has reacted to claims by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige that the tripartite committee on the new national minimum wage was yet to agree on a figure with unions’ leaders, but was still negotiating with them.

    A statement signed by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Ayuba Wabba, Trade Union Congress (TUC) President Bala Bobboi Kaigama and  United Labour Congress (ULC) Joe Ajaero said the minister was being economical with the truth.

    It noted that the committee arrived at a figure, which is to be presented to the President.

    He said the subcommittee on figure chaired by the minister presented four different figures, which the committee deliberated on for several hours before agreeing on a figure.

    The statement said “Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, claiming that no amount has been agreed by the tripartite committee recommendation to government. The report Further claimed that the minister said that government was still negotiating with Labour.

    “It is rather unfortunate and sad if Indeed, the Honourable Minister made those statements. For the avoidance of doubt, organised labour representatives wish to state unequivocally that the Tripartite Committee concluded is work, adopted a figure through a formal motion moved, seconded and adopted in the absence of any counter motion.”

     

  • You are being economical with the truth, Labour tells Ngige

    Organised Labour has reacted to claims by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige that the tripartite committee on the new National minimum wage was yet to agree on a figure with Organised Labour, but was still negotiating with them.

    In a statement signed by Comrade Ayuba Wabba, Comrade Bala Bobboi Kaigama and Comrade Joe Ajaero, Organised Labour said the Minister was being economical with the truth, pointing out that the committee arrived at a figure which is to be presented to the President.

    He said the sub committee on figure chaired by the Minister presented four different figures which the committee deliberated on for several hours before agreeing on a figure.

    The statement said “Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige claiming that no amount has been agreed by the Tripartite Committee recommendation to govemment. The report Further claimed that the Minister said that government was still negotiating with Labour.

    “It is rather unfortunate and sad if Indeed, the Honourable Minister made those statements. For the avoidance of doubt, organised labour representatives Wish to state unequivocally that the Tripartite Committee concluded is work, adopted a figure through a formal motion moved, seconded and adopted In the absence of any counter motion.

    “This was after a thorough debate of a report from the subcommittee figure, chaired by Senator Ngige himself which presented four scenarios for consideration.

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    “The subcommittee worked on the basis of a figure proposed by the Federal Government, figures proposed by a number of state government: as well as proposals submitted by the Organised Private Sector and Organised Labour.

    “The Committee formally adjourned its sitting with a decision that a date will be communicated to members for the signing of the report and submission of same to Mr President.

    Organised Labour, therefore frowns at the manipulation and bending of facts in an attempt to delay or derail the processes needed to promulgate a new National Minimum Wage. We call on the government to take immediate necessary steps to ensure the enactment of a new National Minimum Wage as we cannot guarantee Industrial peace and harmony.

  • Minimum Wage: No agreement on N30,000, Says FG

    *FEC okays N5.2 billion for roads in Sokoto State

     

    The Federal Government on Wednesday disagreed with the report claiming that N30,000 minimum wage has been agreed upon for the new national minimum wage.

    This was disclosed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige at the end of Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He was with the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed and the Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Suleiman Hassan.

    According to Ngige, the Federal Government has not shifted ground on its N24,000 proposal.

    He said that the issue of National minimum wage is a law that is binding on all.

    State governments, the private sector and the organized labour, he said, proposed N20,000, N25,000 and N30,000 as national minimum wage, respectively.

    He said the federal government would continue to discuss with the organized labour and all other stakeholders informally to arrive at a figure.

    He said “If you can recollect we spoke on the 26 of September and I did inform you that I was going to meet with the organised labour to see what we can do to stop the impending strike which was slates for the 27th.

    “We met in my office and we agreed to reconvene the National minimum wage tripartite committee for the 4th and 5th of October, that was the issue in contention at the time and the idea was to enable them get back to their council and call off the strike.

    Read Also:Minimum Wage: No agreement on N30,000, Says FG

    “However, one thing led to the other and the strike took place and they called it off on the 30th.
    We reconvened for the minimum wage committee on the 4th and 5th, and we had adequate representation of all the three partners. Tri partite means the three groups that are negotiating; the first group is the organised labour, the second is the organised private sector and the third group is the government, which is called the authentic authority by the ILO.

    “So we met and if you could remember the contentious issue as per that meeting was for figures to be fixed and we had all proposed our figures, but throughout the negotiations figures were adjusted; the labour unions adjusted their figures and came down to 30,000 per month, organised private’s sectors also adjusted their figures from 25 which they had earlier proposed to N30,000.

    “Federal Government is carrying on its own team, the governors so its a bi-focal arrangement when it comes to the federal government.
    Governors had their own figure, which was different from the figure of the federal government; both the federal government figure and that of the state governors were also presented and we discussed because the cardinal principle of wage fixing mechanism under the ILO is the ability to pay because the issue of minimum wage under convention 131, the fixing mechanism takes that into account and also says that there must be a consensual agreement.” he said

    Ngige added “So we have a figure of the federal government and the state government have theirs. The state government figure at the last time was N20,000, the Federal government had a figure of N24,000 and that was where we all stood.

    “This negotiation took into account this irreducible offers on the different governments but we could not arrive at a consensus. Even though we adjourned our meeting and said we will put up a report that will reflect this position, we are still continuing to discuss informally to see if we can arrive at a common figure.

    “National Salaries and Incomes and Wages Commission have also done…for the government and presented to the economic management team, so discussions are still ongoing and that is where we are.

    “This information becomes very pertinent because I saw all your papers, the dailies yesterday awash with the news that we have all agreed on N30,000, that is not true, the federal government has not agreed on N30,000.

    “The federal government is also carrying the states along with them because a lot of the workers are in the states and its a very sensitive matter, we cannot..because the issue of minimum wage is item 34 and an exclusive legislation by the federal government through the National Assembly to go and fix an amount which the states will find difficult to pay resulting may be in retrenchment of workers in the states.

    “This government doesn’t want any retrenchment and Mr President has always reiterated it that no worker should retrenched for as long as this administration is on; no worker will be denied his promotion for as long as this administration is on and recruitment to replace people who have retired or people who are dead should continue to be done so that we face the issue of unemployment a d do what we can through such recruitment. So this is the situation.” he said

    Suleiman Hassan said that FEC approved N5.2 billion for roads in Sokoto State

    He said “This afternoon, we approved the award of contract for the construction of Kagigi, Jaro, Goraye, and Takwaco road in Sokoto state.

    “This is a 28.75 kilometer road joining Sokoto and Zamfara states. It is in a very good agricultural zone. It will able to ferry agricuktural goods and humna traffic between these two states and onto the neighbouring countries of Niger, and Benin Republic.

    “These contract is awarded to messrs Sky Technical and Construction company limited at the cost of N5.202 billion.” he added

     

  • NLC, minimum wage and politico-economic illogic

    MORE than a week ago, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) embarked on a seven-day warning strike to press home their demand for a fairer minimum wage for workers. The strike, however, lasted for only three days before it was suspended. No one can tell at the moment, not even the NLC, what would be a fair minimum wage. There was talk among the unionists of N65,000; then N56,000; and then, in the spirit of give and take, N35,000. Whatever is finally decided upon — and a decision will have to be taken anyway — is unlikely to satisfy everyone given the state of the economy. The current minimum wage is a paltry N18,000, so small that it not only cannot take care of basic needs, it really did not need any wage agitation for the government and the legislature to angrily take the initiative to raise it appreciably.

    But responding to accusations of foot-dragging on the minimum wage agitation, the government has alleged that states were in fact the foot-draggers, as they can’t seem to have the courage to come up with a harmonised position. If states are unable to reach an agreement, says the federal government championing the executive side of the negotiation, any deal will be futile because states have to bear the higher burden of paying the new minimum wage once a settlement is reached. States, on the other hand, have been deeply sceptical, if not quite adamant, of any new wage. The economy does not admit of any wage flexibility, they argue, considering that some 26 of them have been struggling unsuccessfully for some time to meet up with their wage obligations.

    In turn, recognising that states have stalled wage negotiations, the NLC has vowed to campaign against such states, political parties and governors that fail to pay salaries as and when due, and the new minimum wage once a decision is reached. Consequently, most governors who had been vociferous in arguing the impracticability of a new wage have out of fear begun to sing a new tune, regardless of the fact that no amount of miracle in their states or prioritisation of salary payment could make the difference. The states are cowed, the federal government is non-committal but desperate for industrial peace in an election year, and Labour is flush with enthusiasm based almost wholly on illogic.

    Notwithstanding what happens eventually at the negotiating table, the debate will almost invariably shift to the saner and more practical issue of which state can or cannot pay. About 30 of the country’s 36 states record miserable internally generated revenue (IGR) that is so low as to be practically useless for the purpose of meeting small and sundry basic state needs, let alone salary bills. The implication is that they all unreasonably depend on their portions from the federal allocation to meet salary and developmental needs. It is simply untenable in the short or long run.

    While many states do in fact demonstrate no understanding of how to meet the needs of their workers, nor why those needs ought to be met, the NLC itself has been indifferent to arguments that seek a better understanding of state economies and the structures that would make regular and decent wage payment sustainable. The unions appear to have forgotten that negotiations raised minimum wage to its present unsustainable level, and that a raise, when it is coaxed from the government, does not necessarily make wage payment foolproof, as everyone now knows. Even if an agreement can be reached on what is fair, there is nothing in the states to indicate that it can be paid on a sustainable basis.

    It is tragic how the NLC, states and the federal government miss the point that the current structure of the country makes it difficult if not impossible for a decent wage to be paid sustainably. It won’t happen. Raising wages will only lead to more crisis. Oil, the main revenue earner of the country, is subject to price volatility and, increasingly, low or at best fluctuating demand due to technological advances in alternative energy sources. If the country is not restructured in such a way as to run efficiently and sustainably in line with the true practice of federalism, states will depend unreasonably on federal allocation, structure their administrations and costs unwieldily since someone else is picking their bills, and embark on irrational and wasteful projects they have no business delving into in the first instance.

    The country is tilting at windmills to imagine that by prioritising salary payment it can pay the new fair wage despite struggling unsuccessfully with the paltry old wage. Without restructuring the country, possibly merging or regionalising states, and matching its costs with its revenues, it will be futile to expect industrial peace now or in the future. Sadly, restructuring is unattractive to the country’s leaders, as they hope for the foolish miracle of having their cake and eating it. They are in short creating a paradox no mathematician can solve, not ever.

  • ‘Labour has shown enough patience on minimum wage’

    The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) has said the organised labour has exhibited the highest level of civility, patience and respect for due process in the  quest for a national minimum wage.

    It declared that the demand for an increase in the minimum wage and the nationwide strike declared by labour to achieve it was justified by all economic indices.

    Speaking to reporters in Abuja, MHWUN President Comrade Biobelemoye said: “Permit us to restate at this juncture that the justification for a new minimum wage cannot be overemphasised, while all the indices that justify wage increase have either been introduced by the government or market-driven forces have propelled their emergence.

    “Under this administration, the pump price of petroleum products have been increased; the currency has been devalued with consequential effects on workers and the citizenry. We have unbearable electricity tariffs, punitive exchange rate and hyper inflation, all of which have led to a rising cost of living for workers and other Nigerians.

    “Sadly too, we are yet to feel the impacts of government’s promise to mitigate these hardships even with the setting up of a palliatives committee to fashion out strategy, policies and programmes to cushion the vagaries of its policies,” he said.

    According to Biobelemoye, the government’s disregard for collective bargaining agreement reached with workers has earned it the toga of an administration that has no regard for the welfare of workers.

    He made reference to the crisis in the health sector and how the government has, till today, failed to respect all the agreements reached with health workers.

     

  • How government inaction caused minimum wage strike 

    Tony Akowe who has been on the trail of the organised labour unions in the wake of the warning strike embarked upon by the workers’ union to press home their demand for an improved minimum wage captures the behind-the-scene moves.

    When President Muhammadu Buhari promised workers after the increase of pump price of petroleum product in 2016 that his government was committed to reviewing their salaries, it brought some level of joy to them. Palliatives were also to be worked out for Nigerians within a short time with a committee put in place to achieve that. But it was not until November 2017 that the government finally constituted the tripartite committee to discuss and recommend a new national minimum wage to the government. As a prelude to what government should expect from them, workers had disrupted the May Day celebration in 2017 when it was the time of the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige to address them. It took the Committee several months to settle down and commence negotiation and consultations across board. State governors who have not been part of negotiations in the past were brought on board with one governor representing each of the geopolitical zones. It was expected that this would fast-track the process because the governors would have arrived at a figure and given their representatives a mandate to speak for them.

    Promises upon promises 

    Expectedly, at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Labour Minister further raised the hope of workers when he told them that the Committee will round its work before the end of the third quarter.

    After its public hearing across the six geopolitical zones, workers settled down, expecting to hear that the Committee has arrived at a particular figure as the national minimum wage. But the Minister of Labour once again told the world that the expectations of workers may not be met because of the processes involved in the implementation of whatever would have been agreed upon. Although labour leaders castigated the Minister for his comment, it was obvious that the Minister was speaking truth to the fact on ground. He had said that even after arriving at a particular figure, the report will still have to go to the Federal Executive Council for approval before going to the National Economic Council and the National Assembly for legislation.

    Labour crisis foretold 

    The Nation had predicted a looming minimum wage crisis after the controversy.

    The Minister of Labour was to stoke another minimum wage controversy during the last salaries break when he told the nation that state governors were frustrating the process of arriving at a new minimum wage for the country.

    Zamfara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Abdulaziz Yari indeed supported the Minister’s claim when he said the governors were not elected to pay salaries.

    Insensitivity to workers plight 

    NLC President Comrade Ayuba Wabba dismissed such claims saying 21, out of the 36 state governors made presentations to the tripartite committee during its public sitting, with majority of them quoting figures of what they can pay. While saying the Minister should not act as a spokesman for the governors, he said governors who cannot implement the new minimum wage should gather their workers and tell them to their face that they will not implement it, adding that the issue of non payment of salaries has nothing to do with lack of money, but the mismanagement of what is available.

    However, the adjournment of the meeting of the tripartite committee indefinitely angered organised labour who insisted that government must be responsible and responsive enough to fulfill its promises to the Nigerian people.

    The proverbial kennel that broke the camels back 

    As to be expected, Labour insisted that the Minister of Labour had no right to adjourn the meeting indefinitely when they were supposed to be submitting a report to government. While giving a prelude to the fact that organised labour were spoiling for a showdown with government, Wabba had said the workers representatives were not satisfied with the decision to adjourn the meeting instead of completing its work. He said at the last meeting, we were able to complete the entire report. But just before we conclude, the Minister of Labour spoke at that occasion as representative of the federal government, saying they needed to go and consult before arriving at a figure. The federal government came and said they have not finished their consultations and that they need time to consult. But it was all of us that took the decision to have a work plan. We felt that since this committee was inaugurated in November, we thought that everybody was aware that all stakeholders needed to tidy up whatever consultations they needed to do and make sure that we are able to work within that time line.

    “Clearly speaking, they were not prepared to produce a figure by that date. But our report has been completed. What is left is just to agree on a particular figure. All the parameters to be used to arrive at a figure are there. I can say clearly that states have sent in memorandum. Infact, 21 states sent in memorandum, with about 12 quoting figures, NECA has submitted a figure, organised labour has submitted a figure. What we thought was that we should be able to complete that assignment by the 5th of September. With the new development and they saying that they want to consult, we could say that it is not a fair process if somebody is saying at this point that he has not consulted.

    “We are committed to respecting the timeline and that is why we left everything we are doing to do the needful to be able to do a good job. All the parameters you can think of have been considered and the report is ready. But the only thing missing is the issue of figure and we know that at this point in time, Nigerian workers will like such news. Individual states quoted figures and every state was given the opportunity to make presentation. A letter was written to every state by the secretariat to send in their memo, making their inputs and 21 of them actually made inputs.

    “You are aware of the figures quoted by organised labour. We have enough data to do justice to the work and we have actually done justice to the work. I am telling you that this is what has happened. But a particular figure which should be agreed upon is not, but we have actually started agreeing on that.

    “There were proposals and counter proposals before this information came directly from the Minister of Labour that there is a committee of the federal government led by the Minister of Budget and National Planning who were supposed to have sent in their input, but did not. There was enough time for everybody to make input. Now that the report should have been consummated, some people are saying they need time for consultation. We thought that should not have been the situation because of the importance of the issue to Nigerian workers and the workers can also not continue to be patient. We are already about two years behind schedule. The 2011 minimum wage collective agreement by all parties agreed that a review will be due after five years and we all know when that period is due.  Started behind schedule and I must say that the committee did a lot of work to reach where we are presently. All parties have been very committed and despite all distractions, we have been to drive the process.

    “They are at liberty to quote figures and we are at liberty to also quote what we think is right. It is a process of dialogue and consultation and at the end of the day, we have to agree on something. We are satisfied that they came up with something they want us to consider. What is important is that they are committed to reviewing the minimum wage. That is why they came up with the options. Every state should answer their own name and the workers of that state will engage them. I don’t want us to hide under the omnibus name. Every governor must first answer their names. What we have agreed is that if a governor is not willing to comply, let him go back to his own state, call the workers and tell them he will not pay the minimum wage and we will take it from there. Let the minister not speak form the governors. He should speak on behalf of the federal government. Even the last one we had, the Governors Forum never made any submission. It was individual states that sent in memo because what is recognised by law is individual states. If we do the needful and prioritise our needs, states will be able to pay. As we speak there are states that are doing extremely well in the payment of the N18,000 minimum wage. The issue is not about resources, but management of those resources.”

    Reacting to the ultimatum for a strike issued by organised labour who were coming together for the first time in over three years, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige said organised labour were crying wolf on the issue of minimum wage where there is none, saying the National Minimum Wage Committee set up by the Federal Government was still working within its time frame. Rather than taking steps to avert the strike, Ngige said the ultimatum issued by the labour leaders was unnecessary, pointing that, “The the ultimatum was a subtle threat which is against the various conventions of the International Labour Organisation that has to do be minimum wage and other forms of negotiations does not allow partners to issue threats as the other partner will be regarded as negotiating under duress.”

    The Minister had insisted that the work of the Committee, including a draft bill to be sent to the President and subsequently to the National Assembly and all other work of the Committee were ready except the issue of a particular figure to be agreed upon.

    He accused organised labour of trying to overheat the polity, insisting that the Buhari government was a worker- friendly government.

    He said while organised labour first made a presentation of N56,000 as its demand and withdrew its, only to withdraw it and made another presentation of N65,000, the organised private sector made a presentation of N42,000 and later withdraw it for lower presentation of N25,000.

    Ngige said that with all the presentations, the government needed to look at everything that has been presented before arriving at a figure which can be paid by all, saying “if we arrive at a figure that is not implementable, what then is the essence of negotiation.”

    Too little too late 

    At the point he requested for more time to enable the government consult widely saying “At the last meeting of the Committee, I requested for two weeks to consult with members of the Economic Management team, most of whom were out of the country with the President,” adding that the Committee was inaugurated by the President because of his personal interest on the matter. “We don’t want people to renege on the agreement when we finally come up with something. That is why the President insisted that the governors must be part of the process. They had complained that they were not part of the last process.The Governors’ Forum had also asked for more time to consult among themselves and dismissed insinuations that the governors said they were not elected to pay salaries.”

    The Nation gathered that at a meeting of government representatives on the tripartite committee with the Vice President, a four-man Committee was set up to work out the financial implications of the new minimum wage.

    Meeting deadlock 

    Many had thought that the meeting with the Vice President will avert the strike but the organised labour were said to have been left out. However, few hours to the strike, the leadership of the organised labour were invited to a meeting meant to avert the strike.

    Igwe Achese, Deputy President of the United Labour Congress said even though they believed that nothing would come out of the meeting, they still went ahead to attend it.

    “Interestingly, the Minister is aware that organised labour needs the permission of their various organs, especially the National Executive Council to pronounce a strike and also need the same body to suspend or call off the action. This explain why some labour leaders believed that the government was not actually interested in averting the strike,” he recalled.

    Although the tripartite committee is scheduled to reconvene on Thursday, October 4, it was not clear as at the time of filing this report whether the organised labour will continue their action or suspend it to pave the way for further negotiation.

  • Minimum wage, maximum wage

    LAST Monday, the leaders of the United Labour Congress of Nigeria ULC had asked Nigerian workers to stock up foodstuff and supplies, hinting that a nationwide strike seemed inevitable.

    Right they were, as the ULC later issued a circular to all its state councils and affiliate unions which said, “This is to inform you that organized labour shall commence nationwide warning strike… effective midnight of Wednesday September 26th, 2018”.

    The action has begun; it’s not the action, but the need for the action that grieves. Speak with anyone of the members of the TUC, NLC,the ULC and in fact any member of a Professional body in this nation and they will immediately tell you: Strike Is The Only Language Government Understands.

    Sad to see once again, government has proved the governed right. People would only be amazed at the response of the Labour Ministry. Claiming to be unaware of the 14 day ultimatum, on the deadline day is MOST UNFORTUNATE.

    The reaction (or non-reaction) of the Federal Executive Council which met that Wednesday to give not even a passing word on the nationwide strike gives credence to the inevitability of the strike action.

    The information released to the public was on:

    1. Millions of Dollars released for an Escravos electrification project
    2. Billions of Naira shared by FAAC between the states and Federal Government
    3. September salaries would be paid.

    One supposes that this was to have been conciliatory.

    But, as at Thursday morning of September 27th, SEPTEMBER SALARIES HAD ALREADY BEEN WORKED FOR!

    I am greatly interested in the role of the RMAFC, the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission and FAAC in this cycle of strike action for minimum wage. The RMAFC knows that every five years there should be an upward review in minimum wage. Why is it always an eight year battle? This same RMAFC wastes no moment in approving and paying maximum wage to others, without consideration that it all comes from the same purse.

    The fact remains, eighteen thousand naira as minimum wage is abysmally low, it is not a living wage. That there is a need for, and there is provision for periodic upward review of the minimum wage is not in doubt. It is the mishandling of the issue that has brought us to where we are; the strike action would not have had to happen.

    After about one and a half years of assurances, a “tripartite” committee on minimum wage was finally set up last year by the Federal Government; who is the driver of the minimum wage benchmark.

    As usual, old retirees were appointed into the committee.

    It comes as no surprise that no fresh ideas were offered by them on how to even so much as come to a workable sum or figure, as new minimum. After one solid year of committee deliberations we have arrived at: Strike Action.

    That’s an outcome that was predictable to all but the Labour Minister.

    ARISE AYADE-newest kid on the political block

    In this season of electioneering, before INEC blows the whistle on campaigning, “stylish campaigning” has been going on all along; is going on all across the country under the code-name “Endorsement.” Just replace ‘Political’ Rallies with “Endorsement” Rallies, and you would have everything you could want!

    There is also the place of ‘Consultations’, and here is the main focus. Previously we have had a one-stop shop for consultations; that was up until 2015. It was the journey to Abeokuta, Ogun State to the palatial home of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-military, ex-civilian President and custodian of the “Presidential Library”. All a political aspirant needed was his “blessing” for the Presidential Library, and the rest was easy.

    Enter post -2015 and another signpost has gone up for the political travelers. But this post, unlike the former is strictly for those seeking The Top Job. This signpost attracting presidential contenders only is located in the power city, Minna precisely, at Uphill Mansion ,Number 1 IBB Road.

    There, aspirants and contenders are ushered in to meet with Nigeria’s one and only Maradona, and the world’s only Military President ,Gen. Ibrahim Babangida Rtd, GCFR.

    These two political former heads have been drawing full attention from aspirants just like the U-shape of a conventional magnet does to iron fillings in its space.

    But … hold up, just a minute! There is yet one more stopover in the consultations flight. This is pre -2019, and the magnet shape must not only be complete, but must also be seen to be complete.

    A human hand must lift a man-made magnet to complete the picture perfectly and make the shape a Y, which is the shape of the current times.

    And one man has emerged to pick and hold up the magnet. The completion of the letter; the leg, between “former” and “current” in the nexus of political touch-bases is probably the most unexpected, but is the hotly sought after, in current times.

    Senator Ben Ayade, University Professor, Senator until 2015, and Governor of the tourist state of Cross River is The New Kid. To believe this, ask Senate President Bukola Saraki where he was, upper week.

    Then ask Gombe State Governor Ahaji Hassan Ibrahim Dankwabo where he went the other week. Wait until you hear from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, then follow former Speaker of the House and Sokoto State Governor Amini Waziri Tambuwal on tour.

    The nationwide consultation tours of those aspiring for the nation`s highest office are not complete without a stopover at the Diamond Hill office of Governor Ben Ayade. This list of pilgrims is not done – find out from Alhaji Sule Lamido and Alhaji Turaki whom they consulted with just recently, it was the new Kid on the political block!

    The immediate past party chairman of the People Democratic Party and aspirant Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi and his group just left Senator Ayade’s office a couple of days back!

    Need I say more? Mention more?!!

  • Minimum wage: NANS urges FG to yield to workers’ demand

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has urged the Federal Government to urgently accede to the organised labour’s demand on workers’ minimum wage to end Nigeria’s unwarranted sufferings.

    NANS gave the charge in Abeokuta in a statement signed by its National Public Relations Officer, Azeez Adeyemi.

    Adeyemi said that the Federal Government should quickly prioritize workers’ demand, saying that their welfare and well being should never be compromised.

    He noted that the current minimum wage of N18,000 had become grossly inadequate and could no longer meet the demands of an average Nigerian worker.

    “With the increment in prices of petrol, goods and services in the nation, no doubt the minimum wage is long overdue for increment.

    “NANS is using this medium to assure the NLC, TUC, ASUU and other unions of our solidarity and support to the struggle of the ongoing strike.

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    “The national leadership of NANS under Bamidele Akpan, hereby directs all Nigerian students to actively and morally partake in all rallies, protests and other struggles organised by the organised labour.

    “We won’t compromise as we believe we all shall overcome this present situation,” he said.