The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have opposed the Southern Governors’ Forum’s proposal to decentralise minimum wage discussions to states.
The NLC slammed the idea as “unfriendly and anti-worker,” stressing that enabling states to set their own minimum salaries would be damaging to workers’ wellbeing.
According to reports, the Southern Governors’ Forum sought for states to be allowed to negotiate the minimum wage for workers independently.
At the end of a meeting held on Monday at the Ogun State Presidential Lodge in Abeokuta, the forum resolved that wages should be reflective of the cost of living.
This was revealed in a communiqué issued following the meeting and signed by the forum’s newly appointed chairman, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, and vice chairman, Prof. Charles Soludo of Anambra State.
Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Godwin Obaseki of Edo, Hope Uzodinma of Imo, Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti, Duoye Diri of Bayelsa, Ademola Adeleke of Osun, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, and Bassey Otu of Cross River all attended the meeting.
Other participants included Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, Delta State Sheriff Oborevwori, and Abia State Governor Alex Otti.
“The forum discussed the minimum wage demanded by Labour and unanimously agreed that the minimum wage should be reflective of the cost of living and that each state should be allowed to negotiate its minimum wage,” the communiqué stated.
Meanwhile, the Presidency appealed to Nigerians on Monday not to put undue pressure on the President, assuring them that the Federal Government would send the draft bill on the new minimum wage to the National Assembly whenever it was ready.
“People should be patient,” the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said in a brief statement provided on Thursday.
While organised labour maintains its N250,000 minimum wage demand, state governors have stated that paying even the N62,000 recommended by the Federal Government would put several states in debt.
On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu asked for more time for discussions.
In response to the governors’ suggestion, Akeem Ambali, the NLC’s national treasurer, stated in an interview with newsmen that the governors lacked the authority to negotiate the new minimum wage.
He noted that the governors were required by law to adopt the new national minimum wage.
Ambali recommended the governors cease attempting to coerce the Federal Government and labour with their request to negotiate with labour individually and instead focus on how they will implement the national minimum wage once it is approved.
Ambali expressed remorse that labour had to resort to strike action to persuade the government to meet its demands.
Ambali expressed remorse that labour had to resort to strike action to persuade the government to meet its demands. He requested that the governors make their salaries public and subject to bargaining.
He said, “Traditionally, the minimum wage is a national issue; it is not a sub-national negotiation. That is the essence of the Minimum Wage Act, and the law is clear.
“Governors don’t have the power to negotiate the minimum wage. What they can only negotiate are other allowances, but the minimum wage is social protection content, and it is not only applicable to Nigeria.
“My advice for the governors is that they should prepare their balance sheet and look at how to implement the national minimum wage once it is approved.
“They should not stress themselves with the issue of negotiating with Labour on a state level. After all, we have seen what happened in Zamfara, where they refused to pay the current minimum wage (N30,000) until Labour issued an ultimatum, and they quickly started paying.
“Some states are still not paying the current minimum wage. We know what happened in Anambra, which is the state of the Vice Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Charles Soludo.
“When you look at all that, you will realise that some of them (governors) may not have good intentions. In fact, the majority of them are not labour-friendly, and they are not pro-workers.”
Ambali also encouraged President Bola Tinubu to suggest the new minimum wage to the National Assembly after consulting with organised labour on the agreement.
