The Tripartite Committee on the New National Minimum Wage has criticised the organised labour’s decision to associate its nationwide strike against electricity tariff increases with discussions on the new minimum wage, describing it as unjust to the negotiating parties.

It emphasised the importance of establishing a new minimum wage that would not worsen job losses, particularly in light of recent business closures resulting from the economic downturn.

The committee, which raised the concerns in a statement on Friday, also highlighted its discussions with the Organised Labour, showing the efforts made to reach a consensus.

It said that during the meeting held on Tuesday, 28th May, 2024, both employers and organised labour tabled their offers and government and private sector proposed a monthly wage of N60,000.00, representing a 100% increase from the existing 2019 national minimum wage.

It said that in stark contrast, organised labour made an offer of n494,000 per month, a staggering 1,547% increase, which led to the meeting being adjourned with organised labour seeking further consultations before potentially revising their offer.

The Committee further claimed that efforts to reconvene on Friday, 31st June, 2024, were thwarted when Organised Labour, insisting on employers to first shift grounds, abruptly walked out of the meeting.

It said despite the Government’s defense of its offer, highlighting economic considerations and non-monetary incentives, the Organised Labour refused to shift grounds.

“Thereafter organised labour walked out of the meeting. During the continuation of the meeting the Government further defended their offer of N60,000.00 per month, was based on economic considerations and non-monetary incentives which include the following:

“N35,000 wage award for all treasury-paid Federal workers.100 billion naira for the procurement of CNG-fuelled busses and CNG conversion kits.

125-billion-naira conditional grant and financial inclusion to MSMEs.

N25,000 each to be shared to 15 million households for 3 months.185 billion palliatives (loans to States) to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

200 billion naira to support the cultivation of hectares of land to boost food production.

“75 billion naira to strengthen the manufacturing sector.

1 trillion naira for student loans for higher education.

Release of 42,000 metric tons of grains from strategic reserves.Purchase and onward distribution of 60,000 metric tons of Rice from the rice millers association.

Recent salary increase of 25-35 per cent on all consolidated Salary structures for federal workers.

90% subsidy on health costs for Federal Civil Servants registered on NHIS.

“Light rail commissioned in Abuja to relieve transportation cost till the end of the year. Lagos State had already commenced the same initiative with their Blue and Red lines. In addition to the freedom of Civil Servants to engage in agriculture, the Federal Government has approved the inclusion of ICT services for alternate sources of income.

“In conclusion, the meeting agreed that even where major and small businesses are closing down with consequent loss of jobs, the outcome of a new National Minimum Wage should be such that it will not trigger further massive job losses. It further noted that linking the strike to electricity hikes with the NMW determination was not fair to the negotiating parties,” the statement said. (The Sun)

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