TUC Flays Onanuga over Comment on New Minimum Wage Proposal
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has described the position of President Bola Tinubu's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, on the raging minimum wage debate as a baseless speculation.
The labour union stated Onanuga ‘s comment will serve to sow the seed of discord and undermine trust in the government.
TUC said that Onanuga had on Monday claimed that it will be difficult for government to peg the proposed new minimum wage at N100,000.
According to TUC, the presidential aide hypothetically said that both the federal and state governments will be unable to pay public servants a N100, 000 or more national minimum wage if such were approved.
In a statement signed by TUC's Secretary General, Nuhu Toro, the union said:" The attention of TUC has been drawn to speculative and uninformed public pronouncements by the presidency on the ongoing national minimum wage negotiations.
"The remarks made by the aide are not only insensitive but also indicative of a disconnect from the realities faced by millions of hardworking individuals striving to make ends meet.
"Such speculative statements undermine the fundamental principles of fair compensation and perpetuate the cycle of economic inequality. Tinubu’s government owe workers a duty to advocate for policies that promote decent wages and ensure reasonable standard of living for all citizens, in line with global best practices."
TUC said that the federal and state governments, employers and organised labour, are in the preliminary stages of negotiations for the new national minimum wage in the country in accordance with the constitution, adding "No proposals have been made by any of the negotiating partners, including the presidency.
It added: "No offer has been made, and none has been negotiated. So, the president’s spokesman in bandying around figures, is merely being mischievous. This may well be a strategy to throw spanner in the works of the negotiating body.
"If the presidency has a figure or figures it wants to propose, it should do so through the minimum wage negotiating committee, through social dialogue, determined by the cost of living index, rather than behave like a man throwing stones in the market place and hiding his hand.