Organized labor has given the Federal Government a May deadline to implement the new national minimum wage, as workers grow increasingly restless. With the government’s commitment to the welfare of its citizens under scrutiny, meeting this deadline is crucial to avoid escalating tensions.
As the nation marked International Workers’ Day, NLC President Joe Ajaero seized the moment to urge the Federal Government to take immediate action on the new national minimum wage.
Speaking in Abuja, Ajaero’s powerful address left a lasting impression, emphasizing the critical need for fair compensation for Nigeria’s hardworking citizens.
This year’s International Workers’ Day celebration takes a crucial turn, zooming in on the vital theme of Ensuring Safety and Health at Work in a Changing Climate.
According to NLC President Joe Ajaero, the quest for a new national minimum wage remains an ongoing process, marked by intense and productive discussions. Ajaero’s remarks offer a glimmer of hope for workers eagerly awaiting a fairer deal, as the negotiations continue to shape the future of Nigeria’s workforce.
“All parties in the tripartite process are well represented and the engagement has been robust.
” We have placed our demand of N615, 000 only before our social partners while we await their offer.
“If, however, the negotiation of the minimum wage is not concluded by the end of May, the Trade Union movement in Nigeria will no longer guarantee industrial peace in the country,” he said.
Ajaero also said labour had placed a demand that the new Act would have a two-year life span with an agreement for automatic adjustments in wages any time inflation exceeded 7.5 per cent.
He said the union further demanded that every employer with up to five workers should pay the new minimum wage.
Ajaero called for the strengthening of monitoring and compliance mechanisms in order to penalise non-complying state governments.
He said that Nigerian workers deserved to have a national minimum wage that approximated to a living wage.
“Our figures are based on objective realities around the nation and not based on some fantasy; but on what confronts us as workers around the nation.
“We want to be able to buy food stuff, housing, among others.
” Any wage that is below this living wage condemns workers to starvation, ”he said.
Ajaero, however, urged workers to remain vigilant as the negotiations were approaching conclusion.
” We must not let our guards down but be alert so that together, we can assist government take the right decision and pay workers a living wage as promised by Mr President.
“We will not allow our interest to sabotage the desire of the president concerning a living wage for workers,” he said.
The NLC president also said that there was a need to review the Contributory Pension Scheme.
He noted that there had been complaints about the scheme such as delay or non-transmission of contributed money to Pension Fund Administration among others.
Ajaero also called for the reactivation of gratuity to public servants.
He further called for the upward review of the retirement age in the entire public service from 60 to 65 years and 35 years to 40 years in service just as was done for teachers and judges.