NLC Proposed Minimum wage strike is Over .FG agreed on certain percentages
The
Nigeria Labour Congress has described the signing of an agreement by the
Federal Government and Organised Labour on the percentage increase on the
consequential adjustment in workers’ salaries as a result of the new minimum
wage of N30,000 as a victory for Nigerian workers.
NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, commended all workers and
its affiliate unions for their support, solidarity and unity of purpose
throughout the difficult negotiations.
Wabba, in a statement he personally signed in Abuja on Friday,
said that it was heartwarming that the process was eventually rewarding.
The leadership of the NLC and the Joint National Public Service
Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) – Trade Union Side, had in the early hours of
Friday reached an with the Federal Government on consequential salary
adjustment for public sector workers based on the new national minimum wage.
Wabba said that Organised Labour had once again, disappointed
the antics of those whose interest laid elsewhere than the common goal of
protecting and advancing the interest of ordinary Nigerian workers.
The statement reads: “We want to thank all Nigerian workers and
our affiliate unions for their support, solidarity and unity of purpose
throughout the difficult negotiations. It is heartwarming that the process was
eventually rewarding.
“We must say that, as always, we disappointed the antics of
those whose interest lies elsewhere than the common goal of protecting and
advancing the interest of ordinary Nigerian workers.
“We wish to emphasize that the hard-won salary adjustment will
benefit all categories of workers including those in the military and para
military services. Apart from workers, the recent salary increase will also
benefit ordinary citizens especially those in the informal sector as the
increase in the available disposable income of workers will translate into a
stronger purchasing power for our people.
“This will however only be sustainable if
traders and providers of essential services refrain from artificial inflation
of the prices of goods and services. It makes more sense to sell more at a
stable price than sell little or nothing at inflated prices. Certainly, we have
learnt from our past mistakes that inflation of prices with adjustment in
salaries is a roulette game in which the downtrodden masses are the victims.
“We also call on government to refrain from introducing
counter-productive economic policies and decisions that would erode the recent
wage gain achieved by workers. Any further increase in the prices of petroleum
products, electricity tariff and personal income taxes would amount to
collecting with the left hand what is given to workers with the right hand. The
leadership of organized labour will resist such move.
“Arising from our successful negotiation with the Federal
Government, it is expected that all employers of labour in the public sector
must ensure that all the necessary formalities for a smooth implementation of
the negotiated salaries based on the new national minimum wage are carried out
with immediate effect.
“While commending state governments that have already commenced
implementation of the new national minimum wage, we urge that the
implementation should be a product of collective bargaining process in line
with ILO Convention 98 on Organizing and Collective Bargaining.
“Furthermore, all employers of labour in the thirty-six states
of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as well as the
Organized Private Sector (OPS) are expected to complete the implementation
process of the new national minimum wage and consequential wage adjustment
forthwith.
“State Councils of the Nigeria Labour Congress are hereby
directed to offer leadership and work harmoniously with the TUC and JNPSNC and
all unions to ensure effective implementation of the new national minimum wage
and the consequential salary adjustment that must be reached through a process
of collective bargaining.”
Post a Comment