MINIMUM WAGE: Why Labour is yet to embark on strike – Joe Ajaero | Read Details
As the ultimatum given to the federal government to negotiate and agree on a proposed new minimum wage elapse, the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero says the Organised Labour will not embark on strike until President Bola Tinubu speaks on the proposals submitted to him by the Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage.
Recall that Labour is insisting on ₦250,000 as a feasible living wage for workers, whereas the federal and state governments as well as the Organised Private Sector are offering ₦62,000.
The tripartite committee on the minimum wage had submitted the two proposals to the President on Monday through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume.
Hours after the submission of the reports containing the two proposals to the President, Ajaero said the organs of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) would decide the next line of action after the President’s nod on any of the two proposals.
Speaking in Geneva, Switzerland, at the International Labour Conference, Ajaero said;
“Two reports have been sent to the President and then the NLC will wait for the next line of action based on how the President handles this matter.
“The NLC will not have its position forwarded to the President and go ahead to take certain actions. But when the President finally takes a decision on this, the National Executive Council will have a lot to discuss. Whatever direction they give, then we will carry on with it.”
Ajaero also took a swipe at the state governors under the umbrella body of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum for saying that N62,000 minimum wage proposal by the Federal Government was unsustainable.
