Labour Rejects FG’s Fresh ₦54,000 Wage Offer, Talks Continue Wednesday
Following the Organised Labour's withdrawal from the talks last week, the Federal Government has proposed to pay a minimum salary of N54,000. This is in accordance with the Tripartite Committee on the New Minimum salary's return to the negotiating table.
The Federal Government proposed paying N54,000 during this week's meeting, instead of the N48,000 it had suggested at the last session.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) both recommended N615,000, but Organised Labour rejected this amount, according to a credible source who was present at the meeting and spoke to Channels TV's labour correspondent.
The source claims that the meeting, which took place behind closed doors on Tuesday at the opulent Nicon hotel in Abuja, has been postponed to Wednesday, May 22, in order to continue the negotiations.
"Insignificant"
Additionally, the new government plan was deemed "unsubstantial" by NLC President Joe Ajaero. As for what we need to move a family, it's still not considerable, the labour leader stated on Tuesday night's Politics Today on Channels Television.
Nothing is placed on the table.We might get back together tomorrow (Wednesday) in the afternoon to get on with the talks.
Before May 1st, Labour Day, the Federal Government had neglected to provide Nigerians with a minimum salary that would be considered acceptable nationwide.
Labour and the government are at loggerheads because of the circumstances. Following the dispute, NLC President Joe Ajaero maintained the N615,000 minimum wage, claiming that the figure was determined via consideration of the requirements of an average Nigerian family of six and an assessment of the economic conditions that had gotten worse.
The Nigerian media has been featuring proposals for a new minimum wage lately due to the growing cost of living since the fuel subsidy was removed.
Ajaero and labour leaders set a deadline of May 31 for the Federal Government to comply with their requests.
