Labour Issues FG Seven-day Ultimatum to Conclude Action on Minimum Wage
Onyebuchi Ezigbo
The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union (TUC) have given the federal government till next week Wednesday to reconvene and conclude negotiation on consequential adjustment for the new minimum wage.
In a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting between NLC, TUC and the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC-Trade Union Side) in Abuja yesterday, the labour movement rejected the offer by the government for salary adjustment of 11 percent for public workers on salary grade level 07 to 14 and 6.5 percent consequential increase for public workers on grade level 15 to 17.
It said the government is not realistic and therefore not acceptable to the workers.
According to the unions’ leadership, “We demand the reconvening of the meeting of the committee negotiating the consequential adjustment with a view to concluding the process that started on May 28, 2019, within one week.”
In the communiqué, organised labour tried to give credence to its demand for enhanced pay by reeling out economic indices which it said has watered down workers’ pay package since the previous N18,000 minimum wage was implemented.
The communiqué was jointly signed by the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba; TUC President, Quadri Olaleye, and JNPSNC Chairman, Simon Anchaver, and Secretary, Slade Bashir Lawal.
Labour said since the last national minimum wage of N18, 000, workers have been forced to suffer huge inflation and astronomical hike in the prices of essential goods and services.
Furthermore it said petroleum price has been hiked from N87 per litre to N145 per litre translating 60 percent price increase. Also, it said electricity tariff has been increased by 60 percent while Value Added Tax (VAT) has recently increased from 5 percent to 7.2 per cent. The organised labour blamed the government negotiating team for its alleged insensitivity to the sacrifices being made by Nigerian workers, adding that such uncooperative attitude had led to the delay in reaching a deal on the implementation of the minimum wage.
Organised labour said that it has out of its patriotic disposition demonstrated a great deal of restraint, consideration and patience with government.
“In the course of negotiations for consequential salary adjustment, organised labour had to moderate its initial position of having 66.6 per cent upward salary adjustment for workers on salary grade level 07-17 by accepting an upward adjustment of 29 per cent for officers on salary level 07-14 and 24 per cent adjustment for officers on salary grade level 15–17. Despite this patriotic gesture, government has kept insisting that it can only pay 11per cent for officers on grade level 07-14 and 6.5 per cent consequential wage increase to public workers for officers on level 15-17,” it said
Labour argued that the country’s currency, the naira, had suffered devaluation from N150 to $1 in 2011 to N360 to $1 in 2019, a depreciation of 140 per cent.
Responding to the one week ultimatum issued by the leadership of the organised labour, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, promised that federal government would restart negotiations on the minimum wage consequential adjustment.
Ngige, who spoke to THISDAY on telephone last night, said though ministries are presently busy with matters relating to 2020 Appropriation, he was optimistic that a meeting of minimum wage committee would be summoned to deal with the latest issue raised by labour.
He said: “The Secretary to the Government of the Federation will do something about that and government team will meet the labour soon.” Kingsley Nwezeh Military authorities yesterday restated commitment to their constitutional role of safeguarding the territorial integrity of the nation even as they intensified operations against criminal elements across the country.
This comes as the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force, repelled an attack on Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State, killing two insurgents and recovering one gun truck and anti-aircraft gun.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, said the military was unwavering in its resolve to protect the territorial integrity of the country in aid of civil authority.
He said the military had stepped up operations nationwide designed to contain criminal activities in a bid to ensure peaceful and conducive atmosphere for all and residents of the country in the last few months of the year.
“In the light of the daunting security challenges facing the country, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai wishes to reassure the good citizens of our country of the unwavering resolve of the Nigerian Army to safeguard the territorial integrity of our country in aid of civil authority.
“The Nigeria Army hereby requests our good and law-abiding citizens to go about their normal economic activities without fear of molestation. The populace is equally requested to please assist the Nigerian Army with any useful information that will assist in our operational efforts aimed at ridding the society of criminal elements and other miscreants”, an Army statement said.
The statement signed by the Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator, Col Aminu Iliyasu, said: “In continuation of its step-up operations nationwide, Nigerian Army troops in various operational theatres across the country continue to decimate and frustrate activities of criminal elements.
“This is in line with the resolve of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai to ensure the prevalence of a peaceful and conducive atmosphere for all citizens and residents in the country in this year’s ember months”.
On the attack in Gubio, Borno State, the Army said it killed two insurgents when troops of Sector 3 supported by the Air Task Force (ATF) successfully repelled an attack on Gubio in Gubio LGA of Borno State.
It said the troops neutralised two terrorists and recovered one gun truck, two AK 47 rifles and one anti-air craft gun.
Additionally, 51 civilians hitherto held hostage by the insurgents were rescued during the encounter. The troops continue to dominate the area with fighting/clearing patrols, ambush, raids as well as cordon and search operations.
“Similarly, troops of 27 Task Force Brigade Garrison while on aggressive patrol to deny criminal insurgents freedom of action within their Area of Responsibility (AOR) discovered two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted along the route in Buni Gari, Gujba LGA of Yobe State. The IEDs were safely detonated by the Explosive Ordinance Device (EOD) team.
“Nigerian Army troops continued to cover other parts of the country within the ambit of Operation MESA to ensure the safety and security of the citizens. Troops of 245 Battalion while responding to a distress call, promptly intervened and averted a bloody clash at Mkpani community in Yakuur LGA of Cross River State between the youths of Ajare and Edume clans during a New Yam Festival held in the community. Items recovered from the scene include two Dane guns, one locally-made pistol, two axes and one cutlass,” it said.