The Organized Labour has firmly rejected the federal government’s latest proposal of a ₦60,000 minimum wage, offered during Tuesday’s resumed negotiation meeting of the tripartite committee on a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
The proposal marked the fourth offer presented by the government within approximately two weeks since the resumption of the negotiation discussions.
Despite the government’s incremental increase by ₦3,000 from its previous offer, the Organized Labour, represented by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), declined the proposal.
In a strategic move, Labour adjusted its demand slightly, lowering it to ₦494,000 from the ₦497,000 demanded last week, indicating a willingness to negotiate. However, this adjustment was met with dissatisfaction among labour leaders, who found the government’s proposal inadequate.
A source privy to the breakdown of Tuesday’s meeting disclosed that the labour leaders were not impressed by the government’s latest offer. The leaders emphasized that the government needs to present a more reasonable figure to facilitate meaningful negotiations.
A labour leader, quoted saying before the meeting commenced, highlighted the conditional nature of Labour’s concessions.
“This is simply a case of if they go higher, we will go lower. They need to propose something reasonable for us to propose something lower too. There is no two-way about it,” the leader stated.
The labour leader further elaborated on the strategy of Organized Labour, explaining their preparatory meetings before each committee session.
“We have a way of meeting as members of the Labour before each committee meeting. This helps us to take a uniform stand by the time we get to the meeting front. So as long as the government is ready to present something reasonable, we will meet them in the middle,” the leader added.
