This is despite the fact that financial analysts and industry professionals have pointed out that the economy is recovering slowly and that the minimum wage movement and the reinstatement of fuel subsidies would make things more difficult. They also believe that an early rebound is unlikely.
Recall that on Friday, June 8, the tripartite committee on NNMW concluded negotiations without reaching a consensus because of stark differences in offers between organized labor (the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union) and employers (the government and OPS).
The Federal Government negotiating team defied expectations by adding N2,000 to its initial offer of N60,000, resulting in an impasse that compelled labor unions to call a statewide strike.
Due to the impasse, the committee decided to present President Bola Tinubu with both the N250,000 that organized labor is now demanding and the N62,000 offer made by the Federal Government team, which has the support of the OPS.
The next move that organized labor will take will be decided by President Tinubu and the National Assembly, a member of Labour's negotiation team informed Vanguard.
"At this juncture, we look to the President and the National Assembly to make amends for the wrongs committed by the government negotiators and their counterparts in OPS," the speaker stated. It was a high-level plot including the OPS, state governors, and federal government negotiators.
Under the false guise of small and medium-sized businesses, or SMEs, OPS members pretended that they were unable to pay fair wages.
"State governors were willing pawns for the OPS; they attended very few meetings at first, never desired to see their employees' pay rise, and met with OPS behind closed doors to destroy any possibility of a fair wage.
"On the side of the Federal Government, team members did everything, including threaten, to make sure we did not proceed, in addition to making sure Mr. President was unaware of the actual state of affairs.
Indeed, a high-ranking government official specifically mentioned the NLC president accusing him of being the cause of organized labor's stern attitude and making threats. The TUC president was not permitted to speak, not even when he wished to defend the NLC president.
"Well, we tried our hardest. We have given Mr. President the authority to act morally once again, as it was he who first established the committee. Remember that Mr. President has consistently pledged to pay Nigerian laborers a living wage. He now has every chance to keep his word to the Nigerian laborers.
"But if Mr. President does not act morally, it is the right of the people's representatives in the National Assembly to assume the duty of ensuring that Nigerian laborers receive a livable wage."
"We think that if Although the executive branch acts as though it is unaware of the hardships and pains that the Nigerian people and workers endure, we want the National Assembly's representatives to understand our suffering.
The matter will be presented as an executive bill to them (the members of the National Assembly). They should then take it up and improve the happiness of the country's labor force.
Our future course of action will depend on the actions taken by the President and the National Assembly. We can then convene as an organ to determine our course of action. We will have to wait for now. All I can say is that.
Remember that the Federal Government negotiating team increased its offer by N2,000 during Friday's meeting, increasing its total minimum wage offer to N62,000, following two days of waiting However, organized labor lowered the demand from N494,000 to N25,000.
Additionally, it was learned that the government's N62,000 offer has the support of the Organized Private Sector (OPS).
The Tripartite Committee on New National Minimum Wage, or NNMW, has adjourned in response to the disagreement.
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