Nigerian workers under the auspices of the Trade Union Side (TUS) of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) have threatened to declare trade disputes against employers at the Ministry of Labour and Employment or drag them to the National Industrial Court (NIC) over the payment of the new minimum wage of N30,000.

The threat was contained in a press statement issued yesterday in Lagos by the acting chairman of the TUS of the JNPSNC, Comrade Anchaver Simon, and the secretary, Comrade Alade Bashir Lawal.

They commended stakeholders who participated in the just concluded negotiation on consequential adjustment arising from the N30,000 monthly pay.

The JNPSNC stated that representatives of government and organised labour “exerted so much energy, dedication, and intellect during the prolonged negotiation on consequential adjustment before reaching an agreement acceptable to both parties.

“It is necessary to commend millions of workers at the federal and 36 states’ public services for their patience, understanding, and for the confidence they reposed in the leadership of the TUS of the JNPSNC to carry out the negotiation to its logical conclusion.

“We also wish to put on record the roles played by the leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and that of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in ensuring a successful negotiation,” the union stated.

The TUS hailed the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, for managing the trade dispute when the government tried to derail the negotiation leading to marathon meetings in his office before the agreement could be reached.

“We are particularly glad that the labour minister has urged all employers covered by the 2019 National Minimum Wage Act to commence payment failing which the trade unions should declare trade disputes against such employers at the ministry or drag them to the National Industrial Court,” the union added.

According to the TUS, the acting head of the civil service of the federation, Mrs Folashade Yemi-Esan, also deserved commendation for bringing her motherly disposition to bear on the negotiation process and for assuring the country that necessary arrears would be paid.

“We also wish to advise that since the 2019 National Minimum Wage was signed into law by Mr. President on 18th April, 2019, the implementation should start from that date so as not to trigger off another avoidable round of agitation by public service employees and their trade unions,” TUS stated.

The union expressed the hope that all sides to the just- concluded negotiation had learnt a few lessons that would enable them avoid similar mistakes in future including attempts by some fifth columnists on government side to derail the collective bargaining process.

“We are also glad that government has taken note of the need for a general salary review in the public service. We are looking forward to this review and we hope that the federal government will keep to its promise which was made during the negotiation of consequential adjustment,” the union said. (LEADERSHIP)

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