As the Nationwide strike embarked upon by the Labour unions continue to gain momentum, the Federal government has called for a meeting of the tripartite committee on the new national minimum wage through the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC).
The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 4. The previous meeting of the committee was abruptly stopped on May 31st when the organized Labour negotiation team left, as the government and organized private sector refused to increase their offer of N60,000.
It is unclear if the leaders of the Labour union will attend this meeting.
Meanwhile, The Federal Government has offered to pay a minimum wage above N60,000.
The figure was disclosed by the government after a meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC and its counterpart, the Trade Union Congress TUC at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation OSGF on Monday night, June 3.
For the Federal Government of Nigeria, those who signed the statement were Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation; Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha and, Minister of State for Labour and Employment.
For Organised Labour, those who signed were Joe Ajaero, President, of the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC and Festus Osifo, President, of the Trade Union Congress TUC.
The statement reads
“Further to the negotiation by the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage (NMW) and subsequent withdrawal of Labour from negotiation, the Leadership of the National Assembly intervened on 2nd June, 2024. The Organised Labour declared a nationwide strike on Monday, 3rd June, 2024 to drive home its demands.
The Federal Government, in the National interest, convened a meeting with Labour held in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, on Monday 3rd June, with a view to ending the strike action.
After exhaustive deliberation and engagement by both parties, the following resolutions were reached:
The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria is committed to a National Minimum Wage that is higher than N60,000;
Arising from the above, the Tripartite Committee is to meet everyday for the next one week with a view to arriving at an agreeable National Minimum Wage;
Labour in deference to the high esteem of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria’s commitment in (ii) above undertakes to convene a meeting of its organs immediately to consider this commitment; and
No worker would be victimized as a result of the industrial action.
Done in Abuja on the 3rd of June, 2024”.
Following the outcome of the meeting, the NLC and TUC leaderships are expected to meet with their unions’ executives and those of other affiliated unions today June 4 to brief them and seek their approval to suspend the strike. That approval is likely to be granted and the strike may be suspended thereafter.
Strike: FG offers minimum wage above N60,000 as NLC/TUC to meet today to decide fate of ongoing strike
Strike: FG offers minimum wage above N60,000 as NLC/TUC to meet today to decide fate of ongoing strike
