President Bola Tinubu’s talks with the Organised Labour on the minimum wage were postponed until next week to allow for more consultation with all stakeholders.
At around 2:00 pm, the leaders of organized labor, led by Festus Osifo, the president of the Trade Union Congress, and Joe Ajaero, the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, arrived at the State House and were escorted into Tinubu’s office.
The Tripartite Committee on the new national minimum wage had recently submitted two figures to the President as the organised private sector and the government team offered to pay N62,000, while the Organised Labour demanded N250,000.
After the disagreement over the number, the President withheld any number from the National Assembly by utilizing the Executive Bill to confer with all pertinent parties and settle any disputed matters.
Ajaero, who addressed State House Correspondents after the meeting, said there were no negotiations at the one-hour meeting.
Rather, it was a discussion on the current economic realities in the country, he stated.
“In a real sense, it wasn’t a negotiation but a discussion and we have had that discussion. We agreed to look at the real terms, probably and reconvene in the next one week.
“So, that’s where we are because we didn’t go down there to talk naira and kobo. At least there were some basic issues that we agreed on.”
Asked whether the Organised Labour insisted on the N250,000 demand at the meeting, the NLC helmsman said, “I remember mentioning that we didn’t go into naira and kobo discussion.
“Now the status quo in terms of the amount N250,000 and N62,000 remains until we finish this conversation.”
Osifo, the TUC President, also spoke, pointing out that organized labor had exposed all the economic indices and how they were hurting Nigerians.
Fielding questions on the points of agreement, Osifo said, “In the meeting, we tried to put the issues on the table. Issues that are bordering and biting Nigerians today, the economic difficulties and the value of naira, how it has also eroded, how these have affected the prices of commodities and goods in the market.
“So, we tried to put these before Mr President because he is the President of the country and the bulk stops at his table.
“We have had all the conversations with all his agents, but today (Thursday) we said let us meet with the father of the country and have this conversation and make the argument that Labour always makes.
“We made all the arguments, the economic analysis, macro, micro, fiscal and monetary issues. So we put everything forward and at the end. The President made his remark as the President and we all agreed. Let’s go back to internalise it, have some conversations and by one week’s time, we will come back and we will continue the meeting.”
Despite the deadlock, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, told reporters that the meeting was “fruitful.”
“It is a fruitful meeting; father, children meeting. I think we are hopeful that very soon everything will be resolved.
“Of course, when father and children talk you know what it is?
“That’s just exactly what has happened. It took us almost about an hour. I believe that it’s all for good,” she argued.
Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, expressed his own optimism that the negotiations next week will yield a favorable outcome.
Idris clarified, saying, “Recall that the government and the organized private sector have already put out 62,000 naira, but the organized labor is still refusing to accept that. Nevertheless, we know that they will come to the table and that this is something that Nigerians will be able to implement.
“The government and the organized labor will come to an understanding. We have adjourned now for a week. The labour union has asked the government allows them to at least a week to discuss further and we have allowed them.
“We’re going to reconvene in the next one week and we hope and we believe by the end of the day, we’ll have something that is good for all Nigerians. We do hope that by the time we come together again next week, we’ll have something that we can put out for Nigerians to see and to agree with,” he said.
Meanwhile, our correspondent was informed by a source with direct knowledge of the meeting that President Tinubu asked Organized Labor to take into account the N62,000 offer put forth by the FG and the organized private sector.
The source was not authorized to brief the media, so he insisted on staying anonymous.
“President Tinubu suggested that instead of waiting for five years to review the minimum wage, we can continue to have a dialogue and see the possibility of reviewing it every two years.
“He also said that the Organised Labour should consider the N62,000 offer because it is double the N30,000 we were paying,” said the source.
According to another source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the President simply laughed when the NLC President reminded him that it would lead to reduced wages if the Organised Labour accepts N62,000 because the least paid worker currently takes home N72,000 (including wage award and 40 per cent increase).
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has suggested the review of Nigeria’s minimum wage every two years as opposed to five as stipulated in the law.
He premised this suggestion on the argument that Nigerian workers deserve improved welfare, better wages, as well as safe and enhanced working conditions as the driving force of the nation.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed this in a statement he signed Thursday titled ‘President Tinubu to Labour leaders: I am concerned about Nigerian workers and committed to a just, realistic minimum wage.’
President Tinubu said he was concerned about the welfare of Nigerian workers and that his administration was prioritising their concerns.
“I pay attention to everything around me. A happy worker is a productive worker and society depends on the productivity of the happy worker,” the President said.
However, he called for realistic expectations as regards the minimum wage question, stating: “You have to cut your coat according to available cloth. Before we can finalise on the minimum wage process, we have to look at the structure.
“Why must we adjust wages every five years? Why not two? Why not three years? What is a problem today, can be eased up tomorrow.
“There is much dynamism to this process if we are not myopic in our approaches. We can take a surgical approach that is based on pragmatism and a deep understanding of all factors.”
In his speech, NLC President Ajaero emphasized the need for an increase in the minimum wage, saying, “We need to find a balance between living wage and minimum wage.” Things are difficult for the Nigerian worker.”
He congratulated the President on the judgment of the Supreme Court affirming the constitutional rights of local governments as regards financial autonomy and other salient principles.
“I have to congratulate you on the issue of local government autonomy. We have been in the streets protesting for local government autonomy.
“Now that there is light at the end of the tunnel. It will amount to ungratefulness if we fail to commend you,” the NLC President said.
According to TUC President Osifo, the naira’s value had suffered due to inflation, and the government’s initiatives to combat the growing expense of food and transportation needed to take effect in order to provide residents with relief.
According to him, the introduction of buses powered by compressed natural gas will aid in containing the rising expense of transportation, and if correctly executed, the recent directive regarding the waiver of duties on specific food imports will result in lower food prices.
“We commend you on the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court. History will not forget what has happened today. We think Nigeria will advance in light of this ruling,” the TUC President added.
