TUC laments minimum wage panel not inaugurated 3 months to expiration of current wage
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Abuja needs to inaugurate without further delay, the National Minimum Wage Committee for it have enough time to do its assignment diligently, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has advocated.
TUC Deputy President Tommy Okon told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) it causes concern that the committee has not been inaugurated three months to the expiration of the current N30,000 minimum wage.
He said organised labour will not want to be put under pressure on wage increase because it has to be done in line with the rule of engagement.
“The intention of the government is not known to us. This is because by now, the committee should have been inaugurated, Okon said.
“We do not want a situation where the work of the committee is done under desperation. This is January, and the N30,000 national minimum wage will expire on April 18 this year.
“So, it is expected that by now, the committee would have been inaugurated and a chairman of the committee appointed. This is because it is tripartite in nature, and the committee has to conduct the activities also on zonal basis.
“Thereafter, it will come to a conclusion where whatever will be agreed will also be sent to the National Assembly which in turn will also [conduct] a public hearing and thereafter send it to Mr. President for assent.”
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Implications of delay in constituting committee
Okon explained there are positive and negative implications in further delay in setting up the committee, according to reporting by The Nation.
In his view, the positive is that the government may have an agenda unknown to Labour and try to be sure of what it wants to come out with.
“However, the negative implication is that it may send a wrong signal that the government is not willing to negotiate the National Minimum Wage and that will be a very wrong impression, if the public is taking that as the position,” Okon added.
“Also, Nigerian workers and the masses are not finding it easy because of the socio-economic challenges.
“We know that the N30,000 minimum wage cannot do anything, much less for transportation, payment of house rent, children’s school fees, even taking care of some life-threatening challenges.
“So, these are the implications. It is also going to send a negative signal to even the international community. This is because now, we are talking about transition to energy. These are things that need to be put in place.”
The federal government on January 17 pledged to fulfill its agreements with organised labour.
Labour and Employment Minister of State Nkeiruka Onyejeocha announced when he visited TUC office in Abuja, where he said the government understood the plight of trade unions and would partner with them but the channels of communication must be kept open.
