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| Photo credit: @NLCHeadquarters Source: X |
Nigerian labor unions
have issued a firm deadline for the federal government to finalize discussions
on the minimum wage and reverse the recent electricity tariff increase.
As the federal
government’s Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage continues its negotiations,
the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have
reiterated their ultimatum for the process to conclude by May 31, 2024.
Additionally, the labor unions have reaffirmed their demand for the National
Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the federal government to roll
back the electricity tariff hike by the same deadline, warning of potential
industrial action if their demands are not met.
These resolutions
were established during a joint National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the
NLC and TUC held on Monday in Abuja. In a communiqué jointly signed by NLC
President Joe Ajaero and TUC President Festus Osifo, the unions highlighted the
urgent national issues impacting Nigerian workers, including the recent
electricity tariff increase, the ongoing minimum wage negotiations, and
non-compliance with the 2019 National Minimum Wage Act by some state
governments.
The labor movement,
while acknowledging the progress made in the minimum wage negotiations,
emphasized the need for a swift and fair agreement that accurately reflects the
contributions of Nigerian workers and addresses the survival challenges posed
by current government policies.
The unions criticized
the federal government for its apparent lack of commitment to concluding the
new national minimum wage process promptly. They pointed out that the
government’s failure to adhere to the 2019 National Minimum Wage Act by not
constituting the Tripartite National Minimum Wage Negotiating Committee within
the required timeframe is indicative of this lack of seriousness.
According to the
communiqué, “The NEC affirms its commitment to ensuring that the interests and
welfare of workers are adequately protected in the negotiation process. The
NEC-in-session therefore reiterates the ultimatum issued by the NLC and TUC to
the federal government, which expires on the last day of this month. It
emphasizes the non-negotiable nature of the demands put forth by Nigerian
workers and urges the government to prioritize the resolution of these issues
in the best interest of industrial peace.”
The unions expressed
disappointment that the nationwide picketing of NERC offices and Discos to
protest the illegal electricity tariff hike did not yield the desired result.
Consequently, the labor centers resolved that if the government fails to meet
their demands within the stipulated timeframe, the NEC authorizes the
leadership of the NLC and TUC to mobilize workers for peaceful protests and
industrial actions to press for social justice and workers’ rights.
Furthermore, the NLC
and TUC have instructed all State Councils where state governments have not
fully implemented the N30,000 National Minimum Wage and its consequential
adjustments to issue a joint two-week ultimatum to those state governments to
avert industrial action.
The unions also reaffirmed the
ultimatum previously issued to the Anambra state government by their Anambra
State councils, directing all affiliates and workers in the state to mobilize
for potential action if the state government fails to meet workers’ demands by
May 23, 2024.
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