National Assembly Told to Consult Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage: “Workers Are Not Beggars”
- Organised labour has continued with the struggle for a new national minimum wage under the Bola Tinubu government
- Joe Ajaero's led NLC has urged the National Assembly to partner with the tripartite committee in securing fair wages and improved working conditions for Nigerian workers
- President Tinubu's government has proposed N62,000, while the NLC and the TUC rejected the offer and demanded N250,000 as the new minimum wage
Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.
The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked the National Assembly to work with the tripartite committee on the new minimum wage.
The labour union said this would establish mechanisms for a regular and systematic review of wage levels to ensure they keep pace with inflation and the cost of living.
NLC President Joe Ajaero made the call on Monday, July 8, in a goodwill message delivered at the national retreat on “Labour reforms and the quest for a living wage in Nigeria” organized by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), in Abuja.
NLC urges NASS to review labour laws
As reported by Vanguard, Ajaero's led NLC urged the lawmakers to review and update the labour laws to reflect the realities of today’s economy and protect our people.
”This includes ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and protection against unfair labour practices. We call on the National Assembly to join us in calling on the executive to transmit to the Assembly the bill on the reviewed labour administration laws which had gone through the tripartite process some years back but seemed to have been impounded by the executive.
“NASS should work with the tripartite to establish mechanisms for regular and systematic review of wage levels to ensure they keep pace with inflation and the cost of living.
”Workers are not beggars neither are they slaves. We create wealth and we deserve a healthy portion of it. The present angst in the country can only be assuaged by reasonable income to Nigerian people and workers.”
Negotiations have been deadlocked, as the federal government and the Organised Private Sector offered to pay N62,000, while the labour demanded N250,000.
Minimum wage: Tinubu’s govt told to pay N75k
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Reno Omokri, a socio-political analyst, said Nigeria is not rich and cannot afford to pay any amount as a minimum wage requested by the NLC.
In a tweet on his verified handle, Omokri asserted that the Tinubu government should pay N75,000 as a minimum wage and allow the states to pay what they can afford, rather than enforcing a minimum wage that they cannot afford on them.
Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.
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Source: Legit.ng