The Organised Labour has walked out on the federal government team at the Tripartite Committee meeting on the new national minimum wage for the third time. The Union’s walkout follows the government’s and organized private sector’s refusal to budge from the ₦60,000 offer made on Tuesday.
A source at the meeting revealed to Vanguard that the government’s stance remained unchanged, prompting the Union’s decision to leave. Organised Labour has scheduled a press conference for 4 pm to address the situation.
In a related development, reports indicate that Organised Labour may commence a nationwide strike on Monday, June 3, if the minimum wage negotiations remain stalled. The Union had previously walked out of a meeting last Tuesday, citing the government’s lack of seriousness in the negotiation process.
According to Vanguard, some sources claim that state governors are conspiring against the federal government to impede the negotiations. Labour sources suggest that the nationwide strike could start on Monday, depending on the outcome of today’s meeting.
A labour leader stated, “The outcome of today’s meeting will determine our next line of action. If the meeting is fruitful, it will be beneficial for everyone. However, if the government’s team continues with its indifferent attitude and disregard for workers’ welfare, nothing will prevent us from striking on Monday. We are already mobilizing for the strike.
“Everyone knows that the one-month ultimatum we gave the government to conclude negotiations on the new national minimum wage ends today. We have been patient despite the hardships and suffering caused by the government’s anti-poor policies.
“Furthermore, the issue of the minimum wage is statutory. The old Minimum Wage Act ceased to exist since April 18. We have had more than six months to work on a new minimum wage. But the government has not been serious about issues affecting workers. Nigerians can see that we have been patient. If the government knows what is good for it, let its negotiators present a reasonable offer to meet workers’ expectations. Otherwise, a strike will be inevitable from Monday.”
A source from the presidency acknowledged that the reluctance of state governors to agree to a reasonable new minimum wage is putting pressure on the federal government. “The unwillingness of most state governors to commit to a reasonable new national minimum wage is putting pressure on the federal government to act. Although labour’s demands are high, the federal government is under pressure from the governors not to concede to labour’s demands. They claim they lack the resources to pay a higher wage.
“You can see that they have been avoiding the negotiations because they fear presenting their arguments openly. They cannot continue to avoid this issue. We must face the challenges and come up with a new national minimum wage. It is a law that we must comply with,” the presidency source added.
