Nigerian workers have issued a warning that industrial harmony cannot be guaranteed in every sector of the country’s economy if the Federal Government fails to conclude all negotiations on a new minimum wage, approve it, pronounce it, and kick-start the implementation process by the end of May 2024.
This was a unanimous position contained in a May Day address read by President of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress Comrade Joe Ajaero and Comrade Festus Osifo respectively, on Tuesday in Abuja, where a mammoth crowd of workers had gathered to celebrate the annual workers day celebration.
The leadership of the labour movements who placed their members on an alert to ensure the process was not sabotaged, noted that after placing an offer of N615,000 as a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers, labour was still awaiting a counteroffer from the government, represented by the National Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee.
The duo said, “At this point comrades, we want to inform you that the process of fixing a new national minimum wage is still continuing. All the parties in the Tripartite process are well represented and the engagement has been robust. We have placed our demand of N615,000 Six hundred and fifteen thousand Naira only before our social partners while we await their offer
“Remember that earlier in the year, we sent questionnaires to all of you across the nation with which we sought to measure the actual cost of living for an average family of six. Your response to that questionnaire which you also administered across the 776 LGAs assisted us in arriving at the figure with minor adjustments
“Placed before them also is our demand that the new act shall have a two-year life with an agreement for automatic adjustment in wages any time inflation exceeds 7.5%. We have also demanded that every employer with up to five (5) workers in his employ shall pay the new minimum wage and have also asked for the strengthening of monitoring and compliance mechanisms to penalize non-complying state governments.
“We have done this with the understanding that Nigerian workers deserve to have a national minimum wage that approximates 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 hope that our social partners will see the reality of what we have done and the demands that represent our basic needs to expedite action so that the process will come speedily to an end given the painstaking effort we have put across the nation. We want to be able to buy rice, beans, bread, Housing, clothes, pay school fees, Medicare, pay electricity bills etc. Any Wage that is below the Living Wage condemns workers to starvation and we are sure that our social partners would not want that.
“However, it is important that we urge every worker around the nation to remain vigilant as this process winds to an end. We must not let our guards down but be at alert so that together, we can assist the government in making the right decision and pay workers a living wage as promised by our President; his Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his inaugural speech. We will not allow other interests to sabotage the desire of the president concerning a Living wage for workers.
“If however, the negotiation of the National 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.”
The TUC president who further clarified Labour’s position noted that, “If by the end of the month nothing is done, we are going to push. You know we have several tools that can be used to compel them to do what is needed
“We encourage the vice president to compel the committee to meet as early as tomorrow let us conclude this work.
“We have had a public hearing they said it’s a survey that they want to go around and come up with a survey but a week or two is enough for them to have come up with a survey not even a month plus.”
Disturbed over the 300% hike in electricity tariff and epileptic power situation which was negatively affecting the nation’s economic growth, labour appealed to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and power sector operators to reverse the increase in electricity tariff within one week.
They said: “It’s imperative that any nation incapable of effectively and efficiently managing its energy resources faces certain ruin. One of the pivotal factors constraining our nation is our glaring incompetence in managing this sector for the collective welfare of our citizens.
“Power regardless of its source, remains paramount in kickstarting any economy, while oil and gas are indispensable for robust energy success in every country.”
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The labour leaders who regretted that the over a decade privatisation of the power sector has not witnessed any positive change said it was critical for the government to establish frameworks that would ensure energy works for all Nigerians
“The reasons are glaringly evident. As long as those who sold the companies remain the buyers, Nigerians will continue to face formidable challenges in the power sector. It is unethical to force Nigerians to pay higher tariff for non-existent electricity. Estimated billing is an extortion and a daylight robbery against Nigerians.”
Raising concerns over the resurgence of fuel scarcity and queues at filling stations, labour alleged that certain persons were sabotaging the kickoff and operations of local refineries in the country, which remains the major solution to the issues around availability and affordability of fuel in the country.
According to the duo, there was a critical need for the government to collaborate with the people to establish frameworks that would ensure energy works for all Nigerians, rather than allowing itself to be “monopolized by a privileged few who have hijacked the state.
“We will continue in our efforts to get the federal government to ensure that the refineries work. The promised Port Harcourt refinery remains idle, while the Dangote and WalterSmith refineries, though operational, have failed to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians. We cannot abandon the other refineries in Warri and Kaduna but should ensure that they start working. It appears there is a deliberate effort to sabotage our domestic refineries to perpetuate their non-operation, enabling a select few to profit from the unethical importation of refined petroleum products at the expense of the economy.
“We question the propriety of the recent agreement that was made around in the Dailies with a consortium to build a refinery inside the PH Refining company. We are worried because of the lack of full disclosure of the details of the agreement. We are also worried because we have seen this same idea executed in the health sector in some states for the purpose of using public investments to exploit the people.
“The talk about payment of trillions of Naira on PMS subsidy baffles workers and Nigerians. We want to categorically state that the federal government is not paying a farthing to anybody as subsidy on Petrol. Those flying such ominous kite should not be in a hurry to resurrect what all of us have been told died on the 29th day of May, 2023.
“In any case, it will be interesting to hear directly from the federal government on this and it will also be interesting to hear about those who are receiving such payments and what quantity of the products they have supplied to Nigerians. We would also want to know who in Nigeria is “drinking” the 40m litres daily consumption being projected.”
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