Organised Labour’s Rebuttal
Organised Labour has firmly rejected President Bola Tinubu’s claims that an agreement has been reached on a new national minimum wage. In his nationwide broadcast on Democracy Day, Tinubu stated that the Federal Government and labour unions had reached a consensus. He intends to send an executive bill to the National Assembly to formalise the new minimum wage agreement. However, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has disputed this, asserting that no such agreement exists.
NLC’s Official Statement
Acting President of the NLC, Prince Adewale Adeyanju, clarified that the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage had not reached an agreement, which falsifies the President’s claims. He pointed out that they had yet to harmonise the figures proposed by organised labour and the government—N250,000 and N62,000 respectively. Adeyanju stressed that any contrary claim was misleading and unacceptable to the workers.
Labour’s Stand on Starvation Wages
The NLC has reiterated its stance against accepting any wage figure that amounts to a “starvation wage.” In a detailed statement, the NLC emphasised the need for a fair minimum wage to prevent workers from remaining in poverty despite being employed. This position reflects the broader struggle for economic justice and fair compensation for Nigerian workers.
Miscommunication and Misinformation
The labour union expressed surprise at President Tinubu’s statements and suggested that his advisers might have misled him. They emphasized that the government had not presented any document reflecting an agreed minimum wage. Furthermore, the NLC accused senior government officials of using intimidation tactics against trade union leaders, contrary to the President’s claims of a democratic approach.
Future Negotiations and Democratic Ideals
Despite the current disagreement, the NLC remains hopeful that President Tinubu’s democratic credentials will prevail in future negotiations. They urged the President to align with the workers’ interests and ensure that the final minimum wage reflects the genuine needs of Nigerian workers. The labour unions are calling for a transparent and honest dialogue moving forward.
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