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Tag: minimum wage

  • Labour raises minimum wage demand from N56,000

    THE Organised Labour has presented fresh demand for the new National Minimum Wage for workers to the tripartite committee, using current economic indices as its yardstick.

    It said the N56,000 earlier presented was no longer feasible.

    Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) General Secretary Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, who spoke in an interview in Abuja, said the earlier demand by labour, which was presented two years ago, has been overtaken by the present economic realities.

    The NLC scribe said that the fresh demand was submitted at the last meeting of the tripartite committee after an agreement among Labour leaders.

    He said: “We have taken a position when we made the initial demand on the government, which is almost two years back. But then when we got to the tripartite committee and the committee called on all stakeholders involved  to submit a memorandum.

    “In responding to the request for a memorandum, we then use current economic indices to make a fresh demand. So, what we place and what we demand is an outcome of analysis we carried out.

    “We did the analysis using the current economic table and data of the nation and of cause that came to something different. We are going to maintain what is in the memorandum that we have submitted to the tripartite committee and it is not something or a figure we will be discussing in public.”

    He said the fresh demand was contained in a joint memorandum by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), saying: “We have also formerly made the presentation to the committee and we have defended it and we have a different submission from the initial one. We have also taken account of changes between the first demand and the current position.”

    He, however, did not disclose the new demand by organised labour.

  • Minimum wage: Slow pace of negotiations worries labour

    Organised labour has decried the slow pace of negotiations over the new national minimum wage, calling on workers to be alert as the road to the minimum wage may not be smooth.

    The Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), Comrade Benjamin Anthony, expressed workers’ discontentment at the slow pace of work on the issue of minimum wage.

    Anthony said the workers were waiting for the government’s pronouncement on the new minimum wage, adding that workers had been short-changed for the past two years, based on the law on minimum wage.

    He said: “We observed with great discontentment the slow pace of work on the new national minimum wage. The current minimum wage law came into effect in 2011 and it was designed for review every five years.

    “By implication, another minimum wage ought to have been signed into law since 2016. That is to say that Nigerian workers have been denied the fruit of their labour for the past two years.

    “As we patiently await the pronouncement of the new minimum wage at the third quarter of the year as announced by the Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige, during the just-concluded 40th anniversary of the Nigeria Labour Congress. I implore workers to be at alert as the road to the minimum wage might not be smooth.

    The labour leader called on workers to resist the deceit of political class that resources were not enough to pay minimum wage considering the wide gap that exist between the salaries of political office holders and the toiling workers that produce the wealth of the nation.

    He said workers would no longer accept N18, 000 minimum wage when a Senator collects N13.5 million monthly as running cost.

    Also, the AUPCTRE FCT Chapter Acting Chairman, Comrade Aliyu Maradun said: “Someone sitting somewhere (Senator) cannot be collecting N13.5 million incentive in a month, and you pay a miserable N18, 000 to a worker in a month. It is unacceptable, it is not possible and it is not going to work.”

    “On the strength of the above, permit me to state, with every seriousness, that the primary objective of our union is to defend the economic interest of our members through diligent negotiations, dialogue, collective bargaining, trade dispute, protest, rallies and strikes.”

    Maradun said trade union is an integral part of the society and has become an important part of the economic fabric of Nigeria, recognised and consulted by employers of labour and governments.

    Nigerian Civil Service Union President, Comrade Kiri Mohammed, said the new demand reflected inflation and other economic realities.

    He said: “We submitted our request, NLC has decided to look at the figure and modify it; we actually modified it, an upward review above N56,000, but I am not going to tell you how much because the president (Ayuba Wabba) is supposed to say it.

    “We have submitted it to the secretariat of the tripartite committee. The review is in conjunction with the Trade Union Congress (TUC). You can’t do it alone. All of us met and decided to put heads together and look at the realities on the ground.”

    Kiri expressed confidence that the minimum wage bill would be passed by the National Assembly and implemented by the Federal Government this year.

    He asked: “Who made the budget?” adding: “I believe if the government is serious, we can finish this matter towards the middle of this year, June, July.

    “If we can finish at that time, then before the end of the year, certainly the President must send whatever we agreed on to the National Assembly for them to look at it and for him to assent to it as a law, but I know that once we agreed, government would implement whatever is agreed.”

    Wabba has also warned those he accused of working against the realisation of the new minimum wage within government so also that labour would resist their antics.

    He vowed to resist any attempt to slowdown the review of the national minimum wage. “Let us use this medium to serve notice to those who seek to slow down or frustrate the process of review that they will be resisted in like manner as our predecessors did.

    “We are prepared to deal with employers, especially governors, who deny workers and pensioners their salaries and pension. Workers and their families would not give them any further political support, especially their votes,” Wabba warned.

    Meanwhile, the Federal Government, through the Minister, has assured workers of the introduction of a new minimum wage latest by the third quarter of the year.

    The Minister, who gave the assurance recently, added that implementation of the new pay would take effect immediately after the announcement.

    He added that the government was already receiving memoranda from relevant bodies and persons to enable the determination of the new minimum wage.

  • New minimum wage ’ll address poverty gap, says Fed Govt

    New minimum wage ’ll address poverty gap, says Fed Govt

    THE Federal Government has assured workers that it was working towards ensuring a new national minimum wage that will address issue of social imbalance, inequality and the wide gap of poverty.

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha gave the assurance at an award dinner to end the 40th anniversary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja.

    The late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, late Pa Micheal Imoudu, late Olaitan Oyelunde, late Chima Ubani, late Prof. Festus Iyayi as well as the congress’ past presidents and general secretaries and a host of others were honoured and inducted into Labour Hall of Fame for their contributions to the labour movement.

    Mustapha said the welfare of workers was top on the priority list of the Buhari administration, adding that because of the importance the government attached to the issue, it was making a lot of efforts to resuscitate the economy.

    He said: “The importance of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the affairs of any government cannot be overlooked. It is the soul of the government because without the workers, be they civil servants, private sector workers or even pensioners, there will be nobody to man the system.

    “That is why this administration takes the welfare of the Nigerian worker as priority by putting so much effort into the resuscitation of the economy. I must underscore the fact that the primary objective of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan is to diversity the economy, grow skills, create wealth, gain infrastructure, ensure food security and provide jobs.”

    Mustapha added: “The Federal Government is conscious of the need to bring wages to meet economic realities. It is in this regard that the tripartite minimum wage committee was inaugurated to review the national minimum wage. The committee is determined to complete its assignment before the end of this year and I am confident that the outcome of their assignment would address the issue of social imbalance, inequality and the wide gap of poverty in the country.”

    He congratulated the NLC leadership for deeming it proper to reward past services through recognitions.

    “I congratulate the awardees and say that your recognition tonight is a challenge to all of us to continue to contribute our best to the service of our nation,” the SGF said.

    NLC President Ayuba Wabba said the dinner was organised to honour those who have contributed to the growth of the Labour movement in the country, some of who paid the supreme price and others who spent several months in detention during the military era to strengthen the labour movement.

    He said with the high level of discussion during the anniversary, it was evident that the future would be bright for workers.

    He called for cooperation of Nigerians in the struggle to make the country a better place.

    Wabba said: “As enumerated during the three-day brainstorming event, and from the volume of discourse, it is very clear that the future will be bright because we have assembled the best from among our rank and file…

    “I am certain and all of us are convinced that from the issues that were discoursed, we have reasons to look into the future and build NLC of our dreams.”

  • New minimum wage to be ready before September ending – Ngige

    New minimum wage to be ready before September ending – Ngige

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, said on Monday that a new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers would be announced by the Federal Government before the end of the third quarter of this year.

    The minister’s announcement came just as the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, warned against attempt by individuals and group to frustrate the ongoing negotiation for a new national minimum wage.

    He said such action would not augur well for industrial harmony in the country.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 40th anniversary celebration of the NLC in Abuja, the minister said while the new national minimum wage negotiation may be concluded before the third quarter, the committee put in place by the President has set a time line of the third quarter to conclude its work and make available to Nigerians a new minimum wage.

    Ngige’s announcement was greeted by a loud chant of “no, no no” from the workers who felt that the new minimum wage was taking too long to be achieved.

    The minister also announced that in line with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 144 on tripartite consultation, the government would put in place the Nigeria Labour Advisory Council before the end of the second quarter.

     

     

  • NLC: we’re reviewing demand for new minimum wage

    NLC: we’re reviewing demand for new minimum wage

    THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said yesterday that it was reviewing its earlier submission of N56,000 minimum wage to the Tripartite Committee on the review of the national minimum wage.

    According to the NLC, the earlier demand is no longer realistic owing to prevailing conditions in the country.

    Speaking at the 11th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Federal Council branch of the Nigerian Civil Service Union (NCSU), Acting National President Kiri Mohammed said NLC President Abubakar Wabba will announce the new demand which has already been presented to the secretariat of the minimum wage committee.

    Mohammed added that organised Labour expect the tripartite committee to conclude negotiation on the new national minimum wage before the end of July to enable the President present the outcome to the National Assembly for necessary action.

    He said: “The NLC, because of obvious reasons, has decided to review our demand of N56,000 as national minimum wage, which we submitted to government two years ago.

    “So, many things have happened between when we made that presentation and now in terms of inflation and others. So, we have modified upward the demand. But I will not tell you know how much we are demanding at the moment because the President of Congress will tell you that himself. We have submitted the new demand to the secretariat of the tripartite committee.

    “This review is in conjunction with TUC. We cannot do it alone because we are organised Labour and we all decided to put our heads together and look at the realities on ground.

    “If they are serious about the minimum wage review, we can finish the negotiation before the middle of this year. We believe that if we can conclude all deliberations before the end of July, the President will submit it to the National Assembly for necessary action before the end of the year. But whether it is in the budget or not, I know that government t is supposed to implement whatever is agreed upon.

    “We only had an inaugural meeting and they have not called another meeting since then. I cannot see any reason for the delay, but it looks like it is a deliberate delay.”

    He asked workers to go all out to get their permanent voters card to vote out non-performing governors and other elected officials, who are not workers friendly.

    Acting Chairman of Federal Council branch of the Nigeria Civil Service Union Timothy Odebunmi said it was disturbing that the government was yet to pay the backlog of promotion arrears owed civil servants and called on the government to immediately clear the arrears, threatening that the union may be left with no option than to embark on strike to press home their demand.

    He said the government was also yet to pay repatriation allowances to retired civil servants, first 28 days allowances and burial expenses to families of deceased workers.

    Odebunmi added that the union has been engaging the government on these issues, saying: “This may be our last plea to the government to do the needful before we are forced to act”.

    He said workers have waited for too long for the new minimum wage and their patience is running out.

    The labour leader called on the minimum wage committee to expedite action and put smiles on the faces of workers.

     

  • ‘How govt’ll capture new minimum wage’

    ‘How govt’ll capture new minimum wage’

    The Federal Government will prepare a supplementary budget to ensure the payment of the increased wage bill after the minimum wage review, Director General of the Budget Office Ben Akabueze said yesterday.

    He spoke against the background of the ongoing wage review process and its effect on this year’s budget being considered by the National Assembly.

    Akabueze said: “When an agreement is reached on the new minimum wage, the financial implications will be worked out and a supplementary budget prepared for its implementation.”

    He added: “Right now, the only provision that exists is what we call public service wage adjustment and that is merely over N40 billion that has been made on that line, which means it would not be enough to cater for any adjustments that may be necessary.”

    Speaking during a dialogue with the media and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Abuja yesterday, Akabueze added that an arrangement was being worked on in respect of government departments generating revenue but not remitting to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).

    He said:  ”Going forward, we are working to design and implement a new performance management framework for these MDAs and state owned enterprises that will see them contributing, we have refused to take the path of reducing the revenue projection from them.”

    According to him: “in the 2016 budget, we projected a very ambitious N1.5 trillion naira for these agencies, by the time the year was over, we recorded less than 400 billion. In 2017 we took a hard look and realised that we are being overly ambitious and we reduced the projection to N807 billion, the full year fiscal numbers are not out and I know that there’s still a significant under performance.”

    “For 2017 we put N847 billion and a number of people have questioned the rationale for that decision, but we think that it’s important to answer the question fundamentally whether N847 billion naira revenue projections from these agencies in which cumulatively government has invested about N40 trillion over the years and therefore a budget of N847 billion is simply asking for a two per cent return of investment, is not unreasonable. We chose to hold back on the target and to engage with these agencies to drive the performance and say this is not acceptable.”

    He added that the N4.9 billion the federal government spends annually to maintain mechanical and electrical equipment in the Villa is not excessive.

    “There is the annual N4.9 billion for maintenance of mechanical and electrical equipment in the Villa. The Villa as we all know is an expansive complex comprising residences, offices and other relevant support services and infrastructure as significant as N4.9 billion sounds, it’s not an excessive amount of money to keep those facilities in top shape.”

    Defending other contentious items in the budget, Akabueze noted that regarding “some items classified as “unclear”, we concede that perhaps some of the item descriptions need improvement, we made efforts and some of our officers made contact with some MDAs, we reviewed and questioned some unclear descriptions and we made some push backs and the MDAs were made to clarify but it is quite conceivable that some of them still sound not very clear. If you come across such you can seek clarification from us or specific MDAs.”

    Regarding the N2.2 billion social media mining suite which the DSS plans to execute under security protocols to curtail false information and what is called fake news, Akabueze said this amount in the 2018 budget was captured because false information or fake news as it is known globally now “could threaten national security and they have assured us that the intention is not to hinder freedom of speech and information.

    According to the DG budget, “we have N338 million computer and software acquisition for the federal ministry of finance this is only to fund some ICT solutions this cannot be considered an excessive amount of money for the ministry of finance this is hardly $1 million.”

    There have been allegations of inadequate provisions for some sectors such as health, education and agriculture Akabueze said the Budget Office in preparing the budget “conceded that we need to allocate more money as we go forward but the truth of the matter is that overall there is significant constraint in terms of availability of funding. We should be looking at a budget higher than N8.6 trillion. The estimate is that we need to be spending a minimum of $30 billion annually on infrastructure to actually make a significant dent on the infrastructure stock in the country.”

  • NLC rejects APC panel’s proposal on minimum wage, local govts

    NLC rejects APC panel’s proposal on minimum wage, local govts

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the aspects of the recommendations of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Committee on True Federalism that states should fix their own minimum wage and the scrapping of local government councils as a tier of government.

    The Congress said it would mobilize Nigerians to reject the proposals.

    NLC President Ayuba Wabba said the recommendation was a contradiction to the global best practices and the conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) which Nigeria is a signatory to.

    He said: “That cannot happen because it will contravene our constitution and the ILO convention which Nigeria is a signatory to because minimum wage is on the exclusive legislative list globally.

    “That is to tell you the type of people we are dealing with. That is not acceptable to us because it contravenes all known laws and procedures as minimum wage cannot be determines by a state. You can see in the case of the governors that their own wages is not determined by their states, but by the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission.

    “But that makes that of the workers even more compelling because there is a global standard. Most countries of the world, including the United States has a minimum wage law that is national. States can fix above the national, but they cannot fix below what is proscribed as the national minimum.”

    On the recommendation that local government be scrapped as a tier of government Wabba “that is even a contradiction because they are contradicting themselves. Anywhere around the world, even in the United States, you have the county.

    “In the context of Nigeria, if you look at the history of our development, the local government has played a very essential role in making sure that development is taken to the grassroots.

    “The governors have actually been the problem of the local government because they have been the ones utilising the funds of those local governments. They have also usurped the economic, social and political powers of the local government. That is why they want to continue in that light and that cannot take us anywhere.

    “I am sure that our National Assembly members will rise up to the challenge. So, our agitation will start immediately because we have rejected all of that and we are going to engage the process seriously. ”

    But the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, described as commendable the recommendations of the Governor Nasir El-Rufai Committee.

    The IYC said the committee to reasonable extent accommodated some of the agitations of the Ijaw.

    The IYC Secretary General, Mr. Alfred Kemepado, in a statement, commended the courage and understanding behind the timely recommendations.

    But he expressed fears of the sincerity of the party and the Federal Government to pursue the implementation of the recommendations.

    He said: “The recent recommendation by the El-Rufai-led committee on restructuring set up by the ruling party, All Progressive Congress (APC) is commendable. Mostly the aspect that recommends state ownership of onshore mineral resources including oil.

    “This is clearly not the whole of what we want because we desire total control of our resources onshore and offshore, but it is certainly a giant leap towards what we have Aalways agitated for as Ijaw people.

    “We salute the courage and understanding behind this timely recommendation. However, we worry that this may be political and not backed by sincerity. Recently, the federal government promised the cleanup of Ogoni land and till date we have not felt funding of that programme.

    “We were also told that the IOCs would relocate to the Niger Delta and till date we have neither seen the political will nor a memo from the Presidency to ensure their relocation to the Niger Delta.

    “If the APC-led Federal Government is sincere, let them show sincerity by immediately setting up various committees and put to work all stakeholders to ensure the recommendation is achieved in the shortest possible time before the 2019 elections.

    “If not we would see this as a strategic scam. We are also calling on all southern members of the National Assembly to take this up as a project. We call on their colleagues from other parts of the country to support them in this struggle to reposition the country for better productivity”, he said.

    But the The Action Democratic Party (ADP) said  it did not believe the APC was sincere.

    National Chairman of the party, Yabagi Sani said in a statement signed by Director of Media Kayode Jacobs that the new position of the APC on restructuring was a political gimmick.

  • Minimum wage: Labour expects delivery before third quarter

    Minimum wage: Labour expects delivery before third quarter

    Labour and Employment Minister Chris Ngige’s remarks on the deadline for the national minimum wage negotiating committee may have stirred the hornets’ nest.  TOBA AGBOOLA reports that labour leaders are anxious to smile earlier than the third quarter when the minister says the panel will turn in its recommendations.

    A NEW national minimum wage will be announced before the end of the year, if the word of the Minister Labour & Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, is anything to go by.

    The 30-member tripartite committee chaired by former Head of Service of the Federation Ms. Amal Pepple is billed to conclude its assignment by the third quarter and submit its report to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    But the organised labour would rather want all wage-related issues resolved not later than the third quarter, when the wage negotiating committee is expected to conclude its work.

    “The delivery and the adoption of the new minimum wage is expected to take effect before the third quarter,” labour leaders said yesterday.

    They were reacting to the minister’s remarks on the ongoing negotiation for a national minimum wage.

    The union leaders are NLC President Ayuba Wabba, his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart Bobboi Kaigama and Medical & Health Workers Union (MHWU) President Biobelemoye Joshua.

    Wabba said the union will reject any attempt to delay the adoption of a new wage for workers, adding that the prevailing minimum wage of N18, 000 (about $46) per month can no longer sustain the Nigerian worker.

    Reacting to the Minister’s comments that workers will soon smile, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba said labour will reject any delay or extention on the new minimum wage.

    The labour leader said yesterday: “It is our expectation that all issues pertaining to the new minimum wage will be concluded before the end of third quarter of 2018 to give Nigerian workers a new hope that the government and other employers of labour have not totally abandoned them.

    He stressed the need for the committee to consider the plight of workers and pensioners during its deliberations and initiate decisions that will improve the lives of the generality of Nigerians.

    According to him, the inauguration of the wage negotiating panel, which was done by the President on November 27, was long overdue.

    “This is something that workers have long anticipated and our expectation is that we want a speedy process now that the facts of the issues are very obvious,” Wabba said.

    He said the purchasing power of the N18, 000 wage minimum, which was approved in 2011, has waned over the years.

    “If you look at the exchange rate”, Wabba said, “the N18, 000 minimum wage of 2011 when we signed the agreement, it was almost equivalent to N110 dollars. Today, the N18, 000 is less than 46 dollars.

    “So, this is the reality and with the purchasing power of the ordinary worker, with the high cost of transaction, our expectation is that the committee should look at the conditions of workers and pensioners.’’

    He explained such considerations were imperative to address the issue of social imbalance, inequality and the wide gap of poverty in the country.

    In his reaction, the TUC President said they (labour) expect everything to be concluded before the end of the quarter.

    Kaigama said “it’s a welcome development and good news to the organised labour if the minister is saying indirectly that the new minimum wage will come earlier than envisaged.

    The TUC chief said the initial attempt by the Federal Government to extend the committee work till 2019 was short down by labour from the outset.

    He said: “We have just set the ball rolling. We will be very happy if everything can be concluded before the third quarter. Initially, they wanted to extend it till 2019, but we rejected this.

    “We said if this thing is for this administration, then it must happen before the third quarter.”

    Kaigama informed that the committee will be meeting before the end of the month.

    The MHWU President said that any attempt by the government to score political point with the minimum wage issue will be rejected by organised labour.

    “We are certain that if the government employs delay tactics for any reason, labour will react,’’ Joshua said.

    Although the committee was yet to sit since its inauguration last year, stakeholders are optimistic that its members will come up with favourable decisions at the end of the panel’s assignment this year.

    The committee report, Dr. Ngige said, will guide the Federal Government on the issuance of a white paper and subsequently transmit the content to the National Assembly for approval.

    Speaking at the weekend after flagging off the proposed skills acquisition center at Ifitedunu in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, the minister told reporters that the minimum wage, when endorsed by the National Assembly and signed into law by the President, will be binding on state governments.

    Many of states have been demanding that they be allowed to negotiate with the workers on their payroll to enable them come up with what could afford to pay.

    With the dwindling allocations from the Federation Accounts, not a few states find it hard to meet their monthly obligations to workers on salaries and allowances to retirees.

    Ngige described minimum wage as a national matter on which the constitution allows only the Federal Government to legislate on, being on the exclusive legislative list.

    The minister, who doubles as the deputy chairman, said committee had swung into action after its inaugural meeting on December 14, last year.

    He said: “The committee, which had brought out a framework to guide it, will conclude its work by the third quarter of 2018 and then submit its report to enable the Federal Government issue a white paper and subsequently transmit the content to the National Assembly.

    “That is why the President is not over flogging the issue, but he is monitoring the work of the committee. One thing that is clear is that the states will abide by whatever will be the outcome of the work of the committee because they (governors) have nominees there.

    “The Governors’ Forum is represented in the committee and the Federal Government component is represented by five ministers and the Head of Service of the Federation. It will therefore be against the spirit of the constitution for the states to have their own minimum wage.”

    Insisting that the national minimum wage would be the baseline, the minister, however added that states with capability to pay above the approved wage could do so, “but not below the national minimum wage”, he said.

    The minister explained said that whatever minimum wage that would be proposed would be backed up with productivity indices, noting that was why the National Employers Consultative Assembly (NECA) has representative in the committee to protect their workers’ interest.

    By its tripartite nature, the committee, which was inaugurated at the Council Chambers, State House in Abuja has its membership drawn from the public sector, (federal and state governments) and the private sector, made up of the largest private employer group and NECA.

    It other members include: the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME).

    In a statement, the Deputy Director in charge of Press, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Samuel Olowookere, named Ms. Pepple (Chairman); Ngige (Deputy Chairman) and the Chairman of the National Salaries, Income & Wages Commission Richard Egbule, as Secretary.

    Other Federal Government representatives are: Udo Udo Udoma (Minister of Budget & Economic Planning); Mrs. Kemi Adeosun (Finance); Mrs. Winifred E. Oyo-Ita (Head of Civil Service of the Federation), and Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. Roy Ugo.

    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) are representing the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

    The Forum’s Director-General, Asishana Okauru, was nominated as an observer.

    Accompanying Wabba in the NLC team are Peters Adeyemi, Kiri Mohammed, Amechi Asugwuni and Peter Ozo-Eson. Besides Kaigama, the TUC delegation has   Sunday Olusoji Salake, Alade Bashir Lawa, Igwe Achese and President, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

    From the employers’ side are NECA’s Director-General Olusegun Oshinowo, Timothy Olawale, Chuma Nwankwo, Mrs. Olubunmi Adekoje, the Director-General, Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI), Ahmed Ladan Gobi, Kaduna East Branch Chairman of the Manufacturers’ Association (MAN), Otunba Francis Oluwagbenre, Hajia Muheeba Dankaka, Kano Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) President Prince Degun Agboade and  President, Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME).

     

  • TUC gives govt six-month deadline on minimum wage

    TUC gives govt six-month deadline on minimum wage

    The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has given a six-month deadline to the National Minimum Wage Committee to come up with a new  minimum wage for  workers.

    The congress is also asking all  governors owing workers salaries to settle such arrears before the end of the first quarter of this year or face the full wrath of the workers.  The TUC also urged the  Federal Government to redouble its fight against corruption.

    In its new year message to  workers by its President, Bobboi Kaigama and General Secretary, Comrade Musa-Lawal Ozigi, the TUC said it could no longer accommodate this perennial fuel scarcity, especially during the yuletide or any other time.

    Urging the government to take immediate steps to address the perennial fuel scarcity in the land, the TUC warned that “If it happens we will  direct and mobilise our members all over the country to abandon their cars on major roads.”

    The message reads: “We wish to thank the Almighty God for the grace to see another year and equally appreciate all Nigerian workers for their endurance  and persistent quest for an egalitarian society.  Your tolerance and that of your wards is commendable. Truly the pain we bear is a needless one and we all shall work to correct the anomalies in 2018.

    “While we also laud governments at all levels for a number of successes recorded, it is instructive that the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria states here unequivocally that Nigerian workers have not only lost their jobs in millions, but many  even committed suicide when they could no longer fend for their families.

    “It is no news that pensioners (our senior servants) who served this country meritoriously die on a daily basis, even at verification locations throughout the country. Though their pension is not paid yet , they are burdened to feed their graduate children who are yet to get  jobs five years after graduation.

    “This is not the best of times in our country as Nigerians are subjected to various dehumanising conditions. How do we explain it, that in the midst of the gruelling fuel scarcity, many workers are still being owed up to six months salary.

    “Bailouts were given but unfortunately diverted by governors and the Federal Government seems not to be doing anything about it. Those governors involved in such irresponsible act should be brought to book. There is no milk of kindness left in our leaders anymore. They prefer state of the art monuments and houses as well as five star hotels to human life and the education of our children (the supposed leaders of tomorrow).

    “Families die on our roads, yet they tell us our roads are not as bad as some Nigerians claim. It is only in Nigeria people pay for services that they did not use.  If things remain like this the Congress may have no option than to hit the street.

    “We are worried by the astronomic rate factories close shop in Nigeria and the billions spent on medical tourism. There was a report recently decrying the spate at which our medical experts flee the country. Nigerians are brought back from Libya lame, blind and abused.

    “As an organisation we do not blame Libyans. We blame our leaders who have failed to provide the basic things of life. What about our young graduates who have now become prostitutes, political thugs, ritual killings and other criminal activities?

    The congress call on President Muhammadu Buhari to do the needful in putting the country on the path of progress, saying “we cannot continue to do the same thing and expect a different result. This is not how it is done in other climes.”

  • Hurdles before new minimum wage committee

    Hurdles before new minimum wage committee

    Apparently succumbing to persistent agitation by organised labour, coupled with the prevailing economic realities workers face, the Federal Government bowed to pressure by inaugurating a 30-man tripartite committee to review the minimum wage. But there are hurdles in actualising the new minimum wage, TOBA AGBOOLA reports.

    Three weeks ago, at the Council Chambers in Aso Rock, President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated a 30-member minimum wage committee.

    The committee, which includes cabinet members, governors, labour leaders, and executives from the private sector, is expected to upwardly review Nigeria’s minimum wage from its present monthly rate of N18,900.

    The committee, headed by a former Minister and Head of Service of the Federation, Ms Ama Pepple, was charged with the task of recommending a fair, decent and living wage for Nigerian workers. With this development, it appears that the machinery for a new minimum wage regime for the country is underway.

    President Muhammadu Buhari during the inauguration said: “My hope is that the outcome of the deliberations of the committee would be consensual and generally acceptable”.

    The President went further to implore the committee to apply principles of full consultations with stakeholders while bearing in mind the core provisions of the International Labour Organisation Minimum Wage Fixing Convention N0 131 and Minimum Wage Fixing Machinery Convention No 26 in the task ahead.

    It will be recalled that  Nigeria joined the league of International Labour Organisation (ILO) member countries that set minimum wage for their workers in 1981. The last time a minimum wage was set before the current one being reviewed was in 2000 with effect from May 1, 2001. Then, the wage was set at a paltry N5,500. It took 10 years to have this benchmark reviewed through a collective bargaining mechanism. The NLC said the union made a demand for wage increase in 2009 after a thorough study of the salaries of political office holders’ pre-and post-consolidation, as well as a careful examination of the minimum annual wage levels in African countries. The study showed that Nigerian workers were among the least remunerated in the world.

    In order to negotiate this request from the NLC and the TUC, the Federal Government set up a tripartite committee made up of representatives from the government, labour and the organised private sector. After much negotiation, discussion, the committee proposed N18,000 in order to make it easy for all concerned employers of labour to implement. It was also proposed that the new wage will apply only to organisations with a minimum of 50 workers in their employment. This bill was passed and signed into law by former President Goodluck Jonathan on March 23, 2011. That was the update from the last exercise.

    Now, Nigerian workers are demanding N56, 000 new minimum wage. The question is, is that realisable given the current comatose economy where the extant N18, 000 minimum wage is not paid as and when due? The last exercise took about two years to conclude after the inauguration of the committee. How long will the current effort take before a new minimum wage comes into force? Is there a genuine intention on the part of the current administration to upwardly review the workers’ minimum wage? Is wage increase the solution to workers’ plight in Nigeria?

    There is no gainsaying that with the astronomic rise in the cost of living, Nigerian workers are right to demand wage increase.

    Chief Executive Officer of Economic Associates, an economic research firm, Dr  Ayo Teriba, said the real economic issue here was whether the current minimum wage rate was optimal or sub-optimal.

    “This means that do workers receive an income that allows them to live reasonably? In my opinion, if you divide 18,000 by 30 days, that is N600 per day.

    “What can anybody do with N600 per day? If you go to N56, 000, that brings it to a little bit over N1, 800; and anyone who says that figure might be inflationary is exaggerating. That’s less than what people earn as unemployment allowance in some countries. The amount is not even significant enough to affect money supply. I don’t think we should be talking about inflation.”

    On the limitations of government revenue, he said, “They should find money. States are in the business of finding money to govern. If you cannot raise money, leave your seat for someone else who can.”

    It is one thing to pass laws and another to implement them. Although the N18, 900 minimum wage was agreed to in 2011, compliance, according to a labour has remained low.

    Chairman, NLC, Lagos Chapter, Comrade Idowu Adelakun, lamented that the low compliance was due to selfishness on the part of employers.

    Adelakun stated: “Nigeria is blessed with abundance. Among oil producing countries, we are the ones who pay our workers the least amount of money. Still, as little as 18,000 and considering the recent economic situation in the country, some people still feel it is too big. Apart from private employers, what of our own government? The majority of state governments are not paying. Instead of paying the full N18, 000 they will be paying N9, 000, and what is that to a worker for 30 days? They only want the rich to be richer and the poor to be poorer.

    “Because the minimum wage is on the Exclusive List and is a law, it is binding on everybody, and those who don’t comply are criminals. As NLC, over the past two to three years, we have gone round states protesting on the streets about this noncompliance issue.”

    On how prepare the NLC is, in order  to ensure compliance, he said : “It is not every case you take to the court that you will win and you know that in this country, there are levels of complications in the judicial system; at the end of the day, they might say you lost. That is why we have taken our destiny in our own hands by protesting, picketing and doing everything to make sure that we have our rights. And that is what we continue to do”

    Director, Social, Economic and Labour Matters at the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association(NECA), Mr Olawale Timothy, said the private sector was very much ahead of the minimum wage rate.

    Timothy said, “We need to segregate which employers are in the category of those who do not comply. Employers in the private sector are paying way above N18, 000. There are sectors where the minimum wage is far above N50, 000. Generally, minimum wage in the private sector ranges between N33, 000 and N50, 000. So the private sector is out of it. So, the class of employers that applies to is probably the government, especially the state governments, and it will be unfair for me to speak on their behalf. However, they are represented on the committee, so they can at least canvass and articulate their position.”