The organized labour has rejected the federal government’s new proposed #60,000 minimum wage at the recent meeting between the pair.The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) turned down the government’s offer of ₦60,000 as the new minimum wage for workers.
A member of the Tripartite Committee, responsible for negotiating a new minimum wage, informed Channels Television that the latest government offer of ₦60,000 was still not acceptable.
The Organised Labour had initially demanded ₦615,000 but had reduced their demand to ₦497,000 last week and further to ₦494,000 during today’s meeting.
Despite these concessions, the meeting ended in a deadlock without reaching an agreement on the new minimum wage.
The deadlock was met at the back of the May 31 deadline day set by unions for the resolution of the minimum wage issue.
The Minimum Wage Act of 2019 mandates a review every five years to align with contemporary economic demands.
NLC President Joe Ajaero criticised the government’s proposals as “unsubstantial” and inadequate for addressing the economic needs of workers.
He highlighted the severe economic disparities between the working class and the wealthier segments of society, calling for harmonization to find a fair meeting point.
“The economy of the workers is totally destroyed. In fact, the workers don’t have any economy. I think there are two economies in the country; the economy of the bourgeoisie and the economy of the workers. I think we have to harmonise this so that we can have a meeting point,” Ajaero said.
