Labour Warns Governors Against Derailing Minimum Wage Negotiations
The Labour Union has issued a stern warning to certain state governors, cautioning them against providing misguided counsel to President Bola Tinubu on the national minimum wage. The labour union has reiterated that the President’s decision on the two proposals before him from the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage will determine their next line of action.
The committee had recommended a new living wage of N250,000, while the government and private sector proposed a figure of N62,000. The labour union has emphasized that any decision made by the government will be subject to the approval of their respective organs.
Comrade Benson Upah, Head of Information for the NLC, stated that the two labour centres would carefully consider whatever figure the President submits to the National Assembly. He also dismissed the notion of immediately resorting to strike action, emphasizing that strikes are a last resort and not every problem can be resolved through industrial action.
When questioned about the perceived delay in President Tinubu’s announcement, Comrade Upah advised patience, citing the recent Democracy Day and Sallah celebrations, which had led to stakeholders traveling out of Abuja. He explained that the report was submitted to the President during this period, and therefore, the delay was understandable. “So, on the length of the time taken for the transmission of the executive bill, we have no issue with that, what we are concerned about is what will be transmitting to the National Assembly.”
He was further asked what will be the reaction of labour union if the government decided to go with the N62,000 offered by the government, against labour’s demand of N250,000.
Regarding the potential reaction to the government’s adoption of the N62,000 proposal, Upah stated that labour would respond accordingly once the government makes its move. ”So, whatever the government transmits to the National Assembly will determine our mood. Let us wait to reach the bridge before we cross it.” He acknowledged divisions within the government team, with some governors expressing their inability to pay even the proposed N62,000.
In fairness, we will not say 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.
“Our message is to the vocal minority in the rank of the governors, giving the governors a bad name, misleading the President and creating a major social problem in the country. Labour warns Governors to retrace their steps, their behaviour in their state has not enhanced the wealth or capacity of their states.
Upah clarified that a minority of governors, though vocal, are obstructing the new minimum wage, while many others have expressed their willingness to pay the proposed amount. He cautioned the vocal minority against misleading the President and creating social problems, advising them to reconsider their stance to avoid plunging the nation into impoverishment and resentment.
The labour union has urged the government to do the needful and “shame the devil,” emphasizing that public opinion largely supports their stance. They have also reiterated that strikes are a last resort and that they will subject any offer made by the government to the decision of their appropriate organs.
On the possibility of labour going on strike, if government remained adamant to pay N62,000, Upah said: “We have said again and again that whatever government offers in the final analysis will be subject to the decision of the appropriate organs.
