Labour unions reject Nigerian Governors Forum offer of N22,500 minimum wage and plan to proceed with Nov 6 strike

LABOUR leaders have rejected a decision by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to peg the new minimum waged at N22,500 ($62) a month saying that the government must honour the agreement to raise it to N30,000 ($82.50) or face a general strike as from November 6.

Over the last few months, labour unions and the government have been negotiating through the Tripartite Committee on the New National Minimum Wage, with both sides coming up with different interpretations of their agreement. According to the unions, it has been agreed to raise the minimum wage to N30,000 a month from the current paltry N18,000 but the government says that the matter is still up for negotiation.

Yesterday, the NGF met in Abuja and said it can only afford N22,500, pointing to the ability and capacity to pay, as well as developmental needs in each state.NGF chairman, Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, said that the position of the governors must not just reflect a figure but also a sustainable strategy.

Governor Yari said: “Following a meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum where we deliberated on the national minimum wage after a briefing from our representatives at the Tripartite Committee and we submit as follows. The welfare of all Nigerians is our ultimate concern and in all our states, we are concerned about the deteriorating economic situation experienced by the vulnerable segment of our population.

"In agreeing to a national minimum wage however, the forum is even more concerned about development, particularly in the health, education and infrastructure spheres. It is therefore our considered position that since the percentage of salaried workers is not more than 5% of the total working population, our position must not just reflect a figure but also a sustainable strategy based on ability and capacity to pay, as well as reflective of all our developmental needs in each state.

“It is in this sense that we feel strongly that our acceptable minimum wage must be done in such a way that total personnel cost does not exceed 50% of the revenue available to each state. Governors therefore agreed to pay a national minimum wage of N22,500.”

Labour minister Senator Chris Ngige and his budget and national planning counterpart Senator Udoma Udo Udoma and the chairman of the Salaries and Wages Commission were present at the meeting. Governors who were present and agreed to the new salary structure included those of Adamawa, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kebbi, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau and Zamfara.

However, the labour unions immediately rejected the position and in Lagos, protests kicked off from Ojuelegba Bridge, through Ikorodu Road to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota. Protesters displayed  placards with inscriptions saying "No minimum wage, No work from November 6” “Minimum Wage of N30, 000 not negotiable” “Minimum wage will boost Nigerian economy’,  “Upward review of Minimum wage will not trigger inflation”, “Ngige and governors do not own Nigeria, Nigeria belongs to all workers."

Addressing the protesters at the Maryland roundabout and  at Ojota Freedom Park, United Labour Congress president Joe Ajaero, declared that from November 6, it would to total war with government until the N30,000 new minimum wage was achieved. According to him, whatever the governors meeting yesterday came out with would be of no effect unless they agreed to implement the N30,000 minimum wage, insisting that there would be no more negotiation because the tripartite committee appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari, had finished its assignment and submitted its report to the president.

Mr Ajaero said: “We are on the road because of government insensitivity to the welfare of workers and Nigerians. We are on the road to sensitise workers and Nigerians about the November 6 commencement date of a nationwide indefinite strike and we are on the road to tell the government that enough is enough.

"November 6 will be the mother of all strikes in Nigeria and posterity will judge us if we fail to rise up to defend Nigerian workers. We are on the road to tell the government that no N30,000 minimum wage, no votes. There is no good healthcare and electricity tariff is far more than 18,000 minimum wage and the tariff continues to increase.”

Nigerian Labour Congress vice president Amechi Asugwuni told Nigerians to stock up foodstuffs  and other necessities ahead of the November 6 strike. He added that once the unions commence the strike, there will be no going back except government agrees to their terms and conditions.