‘Insult to workers’: NLC, TUC reject FG’s N48,000 proposed minimum wage

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have rejected the Federal Government’s proposal of N48,000 as a new minimum wage for workers, describing it as an insult to workers’ dignity.

The unions said this after walking out in the middle of negotiations due to the turn of events which were against the interest and welfare of workers in the country.

NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero and TUC Deputy President Comrade Tommy Etim Okon, in a joint statement read at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, expressed disappointment that the government was proposing a wage reduction instead of an increment, in the face of current harsh economic realities

The duo said: “We are disappointed as negotiations at the Tripartite National Minimum Wage resumed today but reached an unfortunate impasse as result of the apparent unseriousness of the government to engage in reasonable negotiation with Nigerian workers.

“Despite earnest efforts to reach an equitable agreement, the less than reasonable action of the Government and the Organised Private Sector (OPS) has led to a breakdown in negotiations.

“The government’s proposal of a paltry N48,000 as the minimum wage does not only insult the sensibilities of Nigerian workers but also falls significantly short of meeting our needs and aspirations.

NLC: How we arrived at N615,000 new minimum wage demand

“In contrast the Organised Private Sector (OPS) proposed an initial offer of N54,000 though it is worth noting that even the least paid workers in the private sector receive N78,000 as clearly stated by the OPS, highlighting the stark disparity between the proposed minimum wage and prevailing standards further demonstrating the unwillingness of employers and government to faithfully negotiate a fair national minimum wage for workers in Nigeria.

“The government’s failure to provide any substantiated data to support their offer exacerbates the situation. This lack of transparency and good faith undermines the credibility of the negotiation process and erodes trust between the parties involved.”

They added: “As representatives of Nigerian workers, we cannot in good conscience accept a wage proposal that would result in a reduction in income for federal-level workers who are already receiving N30,000 as mandated by law, augmented by Buhari’s 40 per cent peculiar allowance (N12,000) and the N35,000 wage award, totalling N77,000.

“Such a regressive step would undermine the economic well-being of workers and their families and is unacceptable in a national minimum wage fixing process.”

They, therefore, called on the government to “reconsider its position and come to the negotiation table with clear hands that reflects the true value of the contributions made by Nigerian workers to the nation’s development and the objective socioeconomic realities that confront not just Nigerian workers but Nigerians today as a result of the policies of the federal government.”

“Together, in a reasonable dialogue, we can work to give Nigerian workers a N615,000 national minimum wage as proposed by us on the basis of evidence and data.

“This will be in keeping with the pledge of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s pledge to ensure a living wage for Nigerian workers,” they stressed.

The Star