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Tag: new national minimum wage

  • NLC insists on prolonged strike from Jan 8 if…

     

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has insisted on embarking on a prolonged strike from January 8 should government fails to implement the new N30,000 National Minimum Wage.

    Its National President Comrade Ayuba Wabba told our correspondent that the strike will become inevitable should the government fail to do the needful.

    He appealed to workers across the nation to support the action to succeed in the interest of their social and economic prosperity.

    Wabba called on Federal Government to urgently transmit the bill on the new national minimum wage to the National Assembly for.

    He said: “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 strike becomes inevitable the last option for labour, the NLC president 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 giving all it takes to ensure workers get just and fair wages in a decent work environment appropriate to their well-being.

    He added that the NLC leadership is similarly committed to social protection for workers.

    “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,” he said.

     

     

     

     

     

  • I’m fully committed to having new National Minimum Wage, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday promised to implement a new National Minimum Wage.

    He spoke while receiving the report of the Tripartite Committee on the Review of National Minimum Wage from committee chairman Amal Pepple at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Pepple said: “After carefully weighing these critical factors and bearing in the mind the overriding interest of the economy, the committee, while noting the offer of N24,000 by the Federal Government, is recommending an increase in the existing minimum wage from N18,000 to N30,000.

    “We believe that the implementation of the recommended minimum wage will, no doubt, boost the purchasing power of workers, increase consumption expenditure and ultimately stimulate business and overall economic growth.”

    The committee has also produced a Draft National Minimum Wage Bill 2018 for consideration by the government.

    “We strongly believe that the enactment of the draft bill into law is very critical to the operation and future reviews of the National Minimum Wage,’’ Pepple said.

    She added: “Consideration was given to the critical role of the informal sector in employment generation and the need for a realistic minimum wage that will not stifle the growth of the sector and the overall economy.”

    The committee’s recommendation was predicated on the high cost of living, occasioned by the exchange rate as well as the rising inflation rate.

    The committee considered also micro-economic indicators, including the government’s revenue and expenditure profile.

    Pepple believes that the implementation of the recommended minimum wage will boost the purchasing power of the working class, increase consumption expenditure, and stimulate economic growth.

    At the meeting were Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige, Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed and others.

    The President was delighted that the committee completed its assignment in a peaceful and non-controversial manner.

    He said the Federal Government would soon transmit the Executive bill (on National Minimum Wage) to the National Assembly for its passage within the shortest possible time.

    “Our plan is to transmit the Executive bill to the National Assembly for its passage within the shortest possible time.

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

    ”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,” he said.

    ”May I, therefore, implore workers and their leaders not to allow themselves to be used as political weapons,’’ Buhari said.

    He explained that the review became necessary for many reasons, adding that 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 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,’’ he said.

    Buhari spoke of how his administration had been pushing to clear pension arrears owed retired workers with the limited resources available to it, just as it had been supporting state governments to pay workers’ salary.

    He praised the members of the committee for their commitment and sacrifice.

    “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 Nigerian 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,’’ he said.

    The President acknowledged that the concerns raised by representatives of government in the committee was affordability while many states were struggling 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,’’ he said.

     

  • New minimum wage will address wide gap of poverty – FG

    New minimum wage will address wide gap of poverty – FG

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha has assured Nigerian workers that the government was working towards ensuring a new national minimum wage that will address the issue of social imbalance, inequality and the wide gap of poverty in the country. 

    The SGF was speaking at an award dinner to round up the 40th anniversary of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Abuja where the likes of late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, late Pa Micheal Imoudu, late Olaitan Oyelunde, late Chiba Ubani, late Prof, Festus Iyayi, as well as past Presidents and General Secretaries of the congress and a host of others were honoured for their contribution to the Labour movement in Nigeria and inducted into Labour Hall of Fame.

    He said that the welfare of Nigerian workers was top on the priority list of the Buhari administration while describing the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as the soul of the government, adding that because of the importance the government attached to the welfare of workers, 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 infrastructures, ensure food security and provide jobs.

    “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.

    “With this year anniversary theme of Nigeria Labour Congress yesterday, today and tomorrow, it is indeed time to count our blessings and chat a new course for the future. I believe that together, we can build the Nigeria of our dream and improve on the generality of the life of Nigerians.

    “I congratulate the leadership of the congress 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.”

    NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said the dinner was organised to honoured all those who have contributed to the growth of the Labour movement in the country, some of who paid the supreme price while other spent several months in detention during the military era to make the Labour movement what it is in the country today.

    He said with the high level of discussion during the anniversary, it was evident that the future will be bright for the Nigerian worker, while calling for free cooperation of all Nigerians in the struggle to make the country a better place.

    Wabba said “as enumerated during the three day brain storming 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. We brought in our founding fathers that laid the solid foundation that allowed us to continue to exist despite the challenges.

    “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. It is therefore our sincere hope that this evening’s event to look at our little beginning, a beginning that has many challenges.

    “But because of the determination of our founding fathers and the solid foundation they have laid, we are assured that the future is already secured. Therefore, part the event of this evening is to recognize the contribution of our patriots, our founding fathers, organizations and individuals that have worked assiduously to ensure that NLC continue to exist.

    “Some of their contribution are too numerous to mention. Some have paid the supreme price and laid down their lives. Some have suffered deformity and others are here with us and we are going to recognize their contribution.

    “Therefore, this occasion is to recognize key contribution of individuals and Organisation and also our veterans who have stood their ground even in the face of adversity. In the era of the military, some of them spent several months in jail. There is no other occasion to recognize these people than the 40th anniversary of congress.

    “As an Organisation, we have survived all the challenges, but what is the condition of the Nigerian worker today and what do we want the condition of the worker to be. What will be our contribution to national development. Should we continue to serve as second class citizens. All these questions have been answered in the last three days.”

    Read Also: New minimum wage to be ready before September ending – Ngige

  • NLC seek timeline for new minimum wage committee

    NLC seek timeline for new minimum wage committee

    The Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ) said Friday that the congress will be canvassing for specific timeline for the negotiation of the new national minimum wage by the Tripartite Committee appointed by the President saying the issue was long overdue.

    NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said in an interview that the congress expects the committee to consider the plight of Nigerian workers and pensioners during its deliberation in view of the current purchasing power of Nigerians.

    After nearly 16 months of agitations, the federal government on Thursday night announced the appointment of a 30 man committee made up of representatives of the federal government, Nigeria Governors Forum, Organised Labour and Employers to negotiate a new national minimum wage.

    The committee which will be inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari at the council chamber of the Presidential Villa on Monday, November 27 is expected to come up with a new minimum wage for all employers in both the public and private sector in the country.

    Wabba said: “The tripartite committee was the struggle of labour. It is something that we have expected long before now and so, I will say that it is a welcome development. Workers are concerned because of the challenged in the economy, so it is a welcome development that the tripartite committee has been appointed.

    “We hope that after the inauguration, the committee will commence work immediately so that we can cover some mileage and also cover the times that has been lost because this is something that workers have longed anticipated. We look forward to a speedy process because the issues are quite obvious.

    “If you look at the exchange rate, you discover that we virtually import most of the things we used and if you look at the exchange rate when the N18, 000 minimum wage was negotiated and an agreement signed in 2011, you discovered that it was almost equivalent to N110 to a dollars

    “Today, N18, 000 is less than 46 dollars and the reality of the situation is that the purchasing power of the ordinary Nigeria worker has dropped drastically. Our expectations is that the tripartite committee should look at the conditions of the Nigeria worker and pensioners and arrive at something concrete for them.

    “Let me tell you that there are places where pensioners are receiving less than N4000 and that calls for urgent consideration so that the whole issue of social imbalance and the issue of inequality and the widening gap of poverty can be addressed because you also know that there is lack of employment, therefore workers have a lot of burden taking care of their dependents.

    “There is no worker today that does not cater for several dependents. So it something that is timely and our expectation is that the process must be driven with all commitment and above all they should take in to contents the condition of workers and pensioners”.