ABUJA, NIGERIA – The organised labour has rejected the federal government’s revised proposal of a N60,000 minimum wage, marking the fourth rejection in two months since discussions began. The decision came at the end of a tripartite committee meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Continued Discontent and Rejections
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have been steadfast in their demands, recently reducing their initial request from N615,000 to N497,000. Despite this concession, the federal government’s incremental proposals, including the latest offer of N60,000, have consistently failed to meet labour expectations.
Last Wednesday’s meeting ended in a deadlock, with labour leaders condemning the government’s N57,000 proposal, which was only marginally higher than an earlier offer of N54,000. The addition of N3,000 in the latest proposal was similarly rejected by the labour representatives.
Labour’s Standpoint
NLC Head of Information, Benson Upah, expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s offer, questioning its adequacy for the average worker. “We cannot accept N60,000 as minimum wage; what will this get a common man every month?” Upah told THE WHISTLER. He emphasized that the government has yet to substantiate their proposal with a detailed breakdown, implying a lack of sincerity.
Upah clarified that contrary to some media reports, labour has not proposed a N100,000 minimum wage. Their most recent demand stands at N497,000, down from the initial N615,000, as a gesture of compromise.
Stalled Negotiations and Indefinite Adjournment
A source close to the negotiations confirmed to THE WHISTLER that the latest proposal was not considered a serious offer. The minimal increase of N3,000 by the federal government was met with a matching reduction by labour, leading to another deadlock and the indefinite adjournment of discussions.
“The federal government said they will communicate with us regarding the new date for the meeting,” the source added, indicating ongoing uncertainty and lack of resolution.
Future Prospects
The ongoing impasse highlights the significant divide between the federal government and organised labour regarding the minimum wage issue. With negotiations stalled and no new meeting date set, the prospect of reaching a consensus remains uncertain. The labour leaders continue to demand a wage that aligns with the economic realities faced by Nigerian workers, while the government struggles to meet these expectations within its proposed frameworks.
