Organized labour has given the Federal Government until the end of May to finalize the process of implementing the new national minimum wage for workers.
The demand was made by the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Joe Ajaero, during this year’s International Workers Day celebration in Abuja. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Ensuring Safety and Health at Work in a Changing Climate.”
Ajaero stated that the process of fixing a new national minimum wage was still ongoing and had seen robust engagements. He emphasized, “All parties in the tripartite process are well represented and the engagement has been robust. We have placed our demand of N615,000 only before our social partners while we await their offer.”
“If, however, the negotiation of the minimum wage is not concluded by the end of May, the Trade Union movement in Nigeria will no longer guarantee industrial peace in the country,” he warned.
Ajaero outlined the demands of labour, including a two-year lifespan for the new Act with an agreement for automatic adjustments in wages anytime inflation exceeded 7.5 percent. Additionally, labour demanded that every employer with up to five workers should pay the new minimum wage.
He called for the strengthening of monitoring and compliance mechanisms to penalize non-complying state governments. Ajaero stressed that Nigerian workers deserved to have a national minimum wage that approximated a living wage.
“Our figures are based on objective realities around the nation and not based on some fantasy; but on what confronts us as workers around the nation. We want to be able to buy foodstuff, housing, among others. Any wage that is below this living wage condemns workers to starvation,” he explained.
While urging workers to remain vigilant as the negotiations approached conclusion, he emphasized, “We must not let our guards down but be alert so that together, we can assist the government in making the right decision and pay workers a living wage as promised by Mr. President.”
Ajaero also highlighted the need to review the Contributory Pension Scheme, noting complaints about delays or non-transmission of contributed money to Pension Fund Administration, among other issues. He called for the reactivation of gratuity to public servants and the upward review of the retirement age in the entire public service from 60 to 65 years and 35 years to 40 years in service, as was done for teachers and judges.