Minimum wage: TUC shifts battle to National Assembly

As Nigerians continue to react to the new national minimum wage of N27,000 approved by the National Council of State on Tuesday, the organised Labour yesterday said the next phase of the struggle has shifted to the National Assembly. It hopes to lobby the lawmakers to approve N30,000 for workers nationwide.

In interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday, they said the disparity in the minimum wage for federal and state workers was uncalled for.

A civil servant, Kenneth Nwachi, noted that the payment of N30, 000 by Federal Government and N27, 000 by state governments was no longer national minimum wage.

Nwachi said that there was no uniformity if the federal government pays N30, 000 and the states N27, 000.

Mr Joseph Osita, a public servant, said that the approval of N27 ,000 by the council as against the N30,000 recommended by the Tripartite Committee was unacceptable.

According to him, countries like Chad is paying N50,000 and Libya is paying over N100,000 in spite their crisis.

“If countries like Chad, Libya and others can have a substantial amount that can put food on the tables of their citizens, why is the Nigerian government finding it difficult?

“Again government should ensure that they check the prices of goods so that workers can feel the impact of the increments,”Osita said.

Mrs Folake Afuwape, a parent, said the N30, 000 minimum wage organised labour is asking for is not too much, considering the hike in prices of goods.

Afuwape said that the government should  do the needful and put smiles on the faces of Nigerians.

However, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has commended the Federal Government for approving new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

Mr Adeyemi Azeez, the association’s Public Relations Officer, described government’s action as total respect for the yearnings and demands of Nigerians.

“This is a total respect for the yearnings and demands of Nigerians, as this will no doubt go a long way in making ends meet for Nigerian workers and students.

“NANS make bold to say that the new minimum wage will no doubt boost the economy of our dear country and also reduce the unbearable burden on our parents,” he said.

Labour shifts minimum wage struggle to National Assembly

Mr Bobboi Kaigama, President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), made the announcement in an interview with the labour correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He was reacting to the approval made by the National Council of State, which on Jan. 22, approved N30, 000 as minimum wage for federal workers and 27,000 for states.

Government has been locked in negotiations with organised labour since 2016 over a long overdue minimum wage for public sector workers.

“If President Muhammadu Buhari takes the N27, 000 agreed by the National Council of State to the lawmakers, organised labour will provide necessary documents and agreements reached by the tripartite committee to lobby for N30, 000,’’ Kaigama said.

Labour had swiftly rejected the N27, 000 minimum wage, arguing that the council, made up of former heads of state and key government functionaries lacked jurisdiction on the issue.

Public sector workers in Nigeria currently earn some of the lowest wages in the world.

But public office holders, including members of the country’s bicameral legislature earn some of the fattest pay checks in the world, according to analysts.

A tripartite committee set up by the government on minimum wage sat for one year and recommended N30, 000 but the sum was rejected by many state governors, who said that the sum was too much.

Kaigama told NAN that the decision of the council of state would not be allowed to stand because it would set a wrong precedent for the future.

“After statutory bodies have done their jobs, council of state will now sit to review it.  N30, 000 minimum wage is a product of negotiation, not legislation, not advice and not a decree,’’ he stated.

Similarly, the President of the United Labour Congress, Mr Joe Ajaero, described the decision by the council of state on the issue as illegal.

“If the Federal Government approved the payment of N27,000 to workers, it will be a wage award and not a national minimum wage because it negates the agreement reached by the National Tripartite Committee.’’

He said that this would be the first time the council of state would be playing such a role as recommending a discriminatory minimum wage for the country.

Also speaking, the Head of the International Relations Unit of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr Uche Ekwe, condemned the council’s decision on the matter.

According to Ekwe, it will be needless for any further meeting either by the council of state or technical committee after the tripartite committee has concluded and reached an agreement.

He said that workers in states, local councils and especially those in the private sector deserved to be paid N30, 000 as minimum wage.

Workers in Nigeria currently receive N18, 000 as minimum wage.

The figure came into effect in 2011 when former President Goodluck Jonathan signed it into law, raising the wage from the previous N7, 500.

Don’t inflate prices, Kwara civil servants tell traders

Kwara civil servants yesterday advised traders in the state against inflating the prices of goods, in order to make the newly-announced minimum wage of between N27,000 and N30,000 meaningful.

The workers gave the advice in separate interviews with NAN in Ilorin.

According to them, traders and artisans in the country always increase prices of goods and services whenever the government announces a new minimum wage.

Mrs Aisha Bello, who works with the state government, urged the traders not to hike the prices of their goods when the manufacturers did not increase theirs.

“It is common to start inconveniencing ourselves at the slightest opportunity; so, we are begging the traders to be merciful on the workers.

“If the goods are not expensive from the manufacturers, they should please leave us for God’s sake and not increase the costs,’’ Bello said.

Mr Toyin Adewole of the Federal Ministry of Information in the state, said it was time to reduce the workers’ sufferings.

“This is our time to enjoy the benefits of the new wage. We have suffered a great deal when the prices of goods rocketed and the salary was not increased.

“So, we are begging the traders to have the fear of God in them and let all of us enjoy this together,’’ Adewole said.

Another state government worker, Mr Taiye Ibraheem, said it was a long walk to freedom.

“The traders should not turn it into negative for us. Though we deserve better than what the organised labour agreed on, we appreciate the increase. The traders should not create another problem for us,’’ Ibraheem said.

On his part, Mr Dotun Philips said that government should check the traders’ excesses by regulating the prices of goods and ensuring strict compliance.

Mr Ayodeji Babatunde, a private sector employee, said: “I really don’t know what to say at this stage because the issue of a new national minimum wage is dragging on for too long.

“But the question that keeps coming to my mind is that is the federal government able to pay and how sustainable is N30, 000 for states?

“For me, I think it is reasonable for states to pay N27, 000 because it is one thing to agree to pay and another, to be able to pay.

“You may say it is because I work in the private sector, but let’s just face reality, I think the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) should allow this to go through,’’ he said.

Mr Femi Olaotan, a civil servant, expressed displeasure in the way the federal and state governments are treating their workers.

“I’m not particularly happy about the whole minimum wage issue. N30, 000 is not too much, the wage review is long overdue and to think that we are going into yet another review period is raising more concerns.

“The government should have mercy on us, as there are no other allowances and benefits coming with the new minimum wage; this is all we have to look forward to at the end of every month.

“Gone were those days when housing was made available to civil servants, we are not talking about any car and furniture loans that we used to have access to.

“When are we ever going to be proud Nigerian workers? Let there be a uniform minimum wage, if there won’t be uniformity, let the federal government pay its staff above N30, 000 which should be the least,’’ he said.

Another respondent, Mrs Muibat Alao, told NAN that half a loaf was better than none.

“One thing I know our governments for is that they can promise and fail, so it is better to allow them to pay what is convenient for them to sustain.

“The N18, 000 before now, some states still owe, and some were paying half salaries, so what are we talking about?

“Let the NLC give in this time, and wait for another review year to push their luck again,’’ she said.

Traders were not left out in the reactions as some of them expressed gratitude to the government for the raise in pay.

“We are always happy when things go well for civil servants because they are our major customers.

“I am not saying the government has done their best, but they have tried to raise the pay, it will also impact positively on our trading activities.

“The only fear I have now is for inflation in the prices of goods and services, especially for petrol.

“I appeal to workers and the NLC to accept what has been offered, and leave God to handle other issues,’’ Mrs Mary Adams, a grain seller, said.

Ibrahim Saliu, an onion seller, simply said: “it is good that government has increased workers’ salaries’’.

NAN reports that on Tuesday, the federal government said that it would pay its workers N30, 000 while the National Council of States recommended N27, 000 as the new national minimum wage for state government employees.

NUT reacts to disparity in pay

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has frowned at the N27, 000 minimum wage approved for state workers.

The union was also not comfortable with the Federal Government’s decision to pay its workers N30,000 as minimum wage.

In December 2018, the tripartite committee had recommended N30, 000 as minimum wage.

Dr Mike Ene, NUT Secretary-General, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the council should make the new minimum wage equal across board.

“It is unfair and needed to be addressed immediately because a worker is a worker everywhere in the country, either with the federal or state government.

“The N30, 000 translate to N1, 000 per day, we insist that the 30, 000 stands for all workers in the country,’’ Ene said.

Dr Sabiu Sani, a lecturer with the Department of Economics, University of Abuja, said that the government would have implemented the tripartite committee agreement.

According to him, “ We are supposed to have leaders that we can trust and not those that show disrespect to contract.’’

TRCN boss commends Fed Govt

Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) Registrar Prof. Josiah Ajiboye  advised leadership of organised labour to accept the Federal Government’s N27,000 minimum wage offer.

Ajiboye, who gave the advice in an interview with NAN in Abuja, commended the Federal Government for offering its workers N30,000 minimum wage.

The TRCN boss said the approval by both the Federal Government and National Council of States was a right step in the right direction.

“I think the government has taken a very big step especially the Federal Government.

“Apart from the Council of States approving the N27, 000 as minimum wage from the N18,000 which has been operational since 2011, the Federal Government has also promised to top the approved N27,000 for its own workers by N3,000.

“This is a good development and if the states are able to faithfully implement the N27,000 ,I believe very strongly it will create a big leverage for our workers especially our teachers because it will serve as motivation for them to do more.

“Everyone agrees that things are very tight for us in the country; so any increase in salary will boost the morale of the workers especially, teachers.”

Ajiboye called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the bill when presented to it on Wednesday, Jan. 23, to make the new minimum wage become a reality.

On labour’s rejection of the approved N27,000 minimum wage, Ajiboye expressed optimism that the leadership of the organised labour would have a rethink based on the current economic reality.

“I think they will have a rethink because agreements are not cast in stone; definitely they are subject to review and I believe labour will see this as a big step first.

“There is a clause that the minimum wage will be reviewed every five years and that is what we should be working towards.

“So, in the next two to three years, we will begin to work on how to review the situation.

“I think labour will be persuaded at the end of the day as a reflection of the current reality of our economy and look forward to moving higher at a later date,” he said.

Muslim Watch urges labour unions to accept offer

The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG) has appealed to the labour unions to accept the N27,000 new National Minimum Wage recommended by the National Council of State.

The group gave this advice in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by its National Coordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi.

“Our appeal to the Labour is to shift from its hard line posture of not accepting anything less than N30, 000 even in the states and local governments.

“This stance of the labour will create more economic hardship for the nation and the workers; as the current price of crude oil upon which the current revenue of the nation largely depends is very low.

“Rather than rejecting the offer, our labour unions should be realistic and patriotic to accept it and commend the Federal Government for being workers friendly,” Abdullahi said.

According to him, as the nation prepares for general elections in the next three weeks any strike by the Labour on minimum wage will surely be a disservice to the nation.

The national coordinator said the labour must shelve any plan to order strike for now in the interest of peace, stability and progress of the nation.

He said the group received with happiness the resolution of the Federal Executive Council and the Council of States Meetings convened by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“According to the official report, the Federal Government has approved the N30, 000 Minimum Wage demanded by the labour unions but granted states the option of paying nothing less than N27, 000.

Read also: I will pay 100,000 minimum wage if elected president – Sowore

“This is a good point to start from, bearing in mind the challenges faced by stakeholders when the negotiation on this matter began about a year ago.

“We must commend President Muhamnadu Buhari for keeping to his promise of resolving this issue and keeping faith with his assurance of transmitting the Executive Bill to the National Assembly Jan. 23.”

CNPP appeals to NLC to accept new minimum wage

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Edo chapter has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to accept the N27, 000 new minimum wage endorsed by the National Council of State.

The Chairman of CNPP, Mr Roy Oribhabor, made the appeal in Benin.

He urged the NLC to accept the new minimum wage as matter of love and patriotism, in spite of the economic hardship being experienced in the country.

He emphasised that the appeal became necessary after a critical evaluation of the N27, 000 minimum wage in Nigeria as approved by the NCS.

“In as much as we know things are hard, we solicit for understanding because of the reality on ground today from some states.

“We commend the leaders of the NLC for the foresight and determination to provide acceptable wages for Nigerian workers,” Oribhabor said in a statement.

He also called on state governors to be more prudent with management and allocations of resources for the betterment of the people.

“Therefore, transparency and accountability should be their primary concern. Finally, we appeal to labour unions not to allow politicians to use them to advance their agenda to the detriment of the Nigerian State.

“This is the best time to show understanding and accept the minimum wage because the process of salaries increment is never an ending negotiation, hence our appeal,” he said.

Adamawa civil servants, Abuja group hail govt

A cross section of civil servants in Adamawa have commended the National Council of State for resolving the National Minimum Wage issue.

Also, an Abuja-based pressure group, Noble Youths Mass Support Association (NYMSA), hailed the government for taking action to avert nationwide industrial action.

They said that the resolution was in the best interest of the Nigerian workers.

Mr Idris Tarfa, a civil servant, who works with Adamawa Ministry of Works, told NAN yesterday in Yola, that the present administration made N27,000 minimum wage a basic bench mark for a Nigerian worker.

According to him, the question of states going back to negotiate as it was the practice in the past has been put to rest.

Alhaji Sulaiman Dauda, another civil servant with the  Ministry of Environment, said that the resolution on the new minimum wage would go a long way in boosting the living standard of  Nigerian workers.

Dauda called on civil servants to reciprocate the gesture by giving their best for wealth creation in the country.

Also Mrs Aisha Aliyu, a civil servant with Federal Ministry of Education said that the new minimum wage would help boost the nation’s economy.

Aliyu noted that the development would stimulate the purchasing power of  civil servants which in turn would boost the production of goods and services in the country.