The Organized Labour has cautioned certain governors against giving advice that could lead to widespread dissatisfaction and economic hardship in the country.
This warning comes amidst discussions over a new national minimum wage.
The Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage recently submitted two proposals to President Bola Tinubu. The outcome of the President’s decision on these proposals will significantly influence the Organized Labour’s next steps. The government team and organized private sector have proposed a new minimum wage of N62,000, while the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have demanded N250,000.
Comrade Benson Upah, the Head of Information for the NLC, stated in an interview with Sunday Vanguard that the labour centers will carefully consider the President’s proposal to the National Assembly. He emphasized that a strike would only be considered as a last resort, underscoring that not all issues should be resolved through industrial action.
Addressing concerns about the delay in the President’s decision, Comrade Upah noted that the timing coincided with Democracy Day and Sallah, which saw many political stakeholders traveling. He reassured that the length of time taken for the transmission of the executive bill is not an issue for the labour centers; rather, they are focused on the content of the proposal.
He elaborated, “As at the time the Tripartite Committee submitted the report to the President, there was Democracy Day and then the Sallah break, all of which were practically lumped together for the political stakeholders to travel. So, on the length of time taken for the transmission of the executive bill, we have no issue with that; what we are concerned about is what will be transmitted to the National Assembly.”
When asked how Organized Labour would react if the government adopts the N62,000 figure, Comrade Upah responded, “Well, let the government come up with it first, and then I even want you to note that there is division in the ranks of the government team, with the governors saying they can’t even pay the N62,000. So, whatever the government transmits to the National Assembly, that will determine our mood. So, let us wait to reach the bridge before we climb it.”
Regarding accusations that some governors are hindering the new minimum wage, Upah clarified that this opposition is from a vocal minority. He remarked, “In fairness, we will not say that the state governors are the obstacle; it is a vocal minority in the ranks of the governors that is projecting the governors as bad and dishonest people, and we know that minority group. Quite a number of governors have come out to say that whatever they say is the minimum wage, we are ready to pay, quite a number of them have said so.”
He continued, “Our message is to the vocal minority group in the rank of the governors, giving the governors a bad name, misleading the President, and creating a major social problem in the country. We would warn them to retrace their steps; their behaviour in their state has not enhanced the wealth or capacity of their states.”
In response to whether the labour centers would strike if the government insists on N62,000, Upah reiterated, “We have said again and again that whatever government offers in the final analysis will be subject to the decision of the appropriate organs of the two labour centres. So, we cannot say we are going to go on strike, no. We will look at what the government offers and then meet with the appropriate organs of the NLC and the TUC. It is not every problem that will be solved with a strike. Strike, as you know, is the last option.”