Minimum Wage: Tinubu, Labour talks adjourned till next week

Thursday’s talks between President Bola Tinubu and the Organised Labour on minimum wage were adjourned until next week to allow for wider consultation with all stakeholders.

The leadership of the Organised Labour led by the Presidents of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, and the Trade Union Congress, Festus Osifo, had arrived at the State House about 2:00 pm and were ushered into the into Tinubu’s office.

The Tripartite Committee on the new national minimum wage had recently submitted two figures to the President as the organised private sector and the government team offered to pay N62,000, while the Organised Labour demanded N250,000.

Following the disagreement over the figure, the President had delayed sending any figure to the National Assembly through the Executive Bill to consult with all the relevant stakeholders in order to resolve all the contentious issues.

Ajaero, who addressed State House Correspondents after the meeting, said there were no negotiations at the one-hour meeting.

Rather, it was a discussion on the current economic realities in the country, he stated.

“In a real sense, it wasn’t a negotiation but a discussion and we have had that discussion. We agreed to look at the real terms, probably and reconvene in the next one week.

“So, that’s where we are because we didn’t go down there to talk naira and kobo. At least there were some basic issues that we agreed on.”

Asked whether the Organised Labour insisted on the N250,000 demand at the meeting, the NLC helmsman said, “I remember mentioning that we didn’t go into naira and kobo discussion.

“Now the status quo in terms of the amount N250,000 and N62,000 remains until we finish this conversation.”

Also speaking was the President of TUC, Osifo, who said the Organised Labour put all the economic indices on the table and how it was biting on Nigerians.

Fielding questions on the points of agreement, Osifo said, “In the meeting, we tried to put the issues on the table. Issues that are bordering and biting Nigerians today, the economic difficulties and the value of naira, how it has also eroded, how these have affected the prices of commodities and goods in the market.

“So, we tried to put these before Mr President because he is the President of the country and the bulk stops at his table.

“We have had all the conversations with all his agents, but today (Thursday) we said let us meet with the father of the country and have this conversation and make the argument that Labour always makes.

“We made all the arguments, the economic analysis, macro, micro, fiscal and monetary issues. So we put everything forward and at the end. The President made his remark as the President and we all agreed. Let’s go back to internalise it, have some conversations and by one week’s time, we will come back and we will continue the meeting.”

Despite the deadlock, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, told reporters that the meeting was “fruitful.”

“It is a fruitful meeting; father, children meeting. I think we are hopeful that very soon everything will be resolved.

“Of course, when father and children talk you know what it is?

“That’s just exactly what has happened. It took us almost about an hour. I believe that it’s all for good,” she argued.

On his part, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said he remained hopeful of a positive result after next week’s talks.

Idris explained, “Recall that already there is 62,000 naira that has been put out there from the government side and the organized private sector but the Organised Labour is still not accepting that but we know that they will come to the table, we know that this is something that is going to be workable for Nigerians.

“The Organised ;abour and the government will reach an agreement. We have adjourned now for a week. The labour union has asked the government allows them to at least a week to discuss further and we have allowed them.

“We’re going to reconvene in the next one week and we hope and we believe by the end of the day, we’ll have something that is good for all Nigerians. We do hope that by the time we come together again next week, we’ll have something that we can put out for Nigerians to see and to agree with,” he said.

In the meantime, a source privy to the meeting told our correspondent that President Tinubu urged the Organised Labour to consider the N62,000 offer proposed by the FG and the organised private sector made.

The source insisted on remaining anonymous as he was not authorised to brief the press.

“President Tinubu suggested that instead of waiting for five years to review the minimum wage, we can continue to have a dialogue and see the possibility of reviewing it every two years.

“He also said that the Organised Labour should consider the N62,000 offer because it is double the N30,000 we were paying,” said the source.

According to another source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the President simply laughed when the NLC President reminded him that it would lead to reduced wages if the Organised Labour accepts N62,000 because the least paid worker currently takes home N72,000 (including wage award and 40 per cent increase).

Meanwhile, President  Tinubu has suggested the review of Nigeria’s minimum wage every two years as opposed to five as stipulated in the law.

He premised this suggestion on the argument that Nigerian workers deserve improved welfare, better wages, as well as safe and enhanced working conditions as the driving force of the nation.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed this in a statement he signed Thursday titled ‘President Tinubu to Labour leaders: I am concerned about Nigerian workers and committed to a just, realistic minimum wage.’

President Tinubu said he was concerned about the welfare of Nigerian workers and that his administration was prioritising their concerns.

“I pay attention to everything around me. A happy worker is a productive worker and society depends on the productivity of the happy worker,” the President said.

However, he called for realistic expectations as regards the minimum wage question, stating: “You have to cut your coat according to available cloth. Before we can finalise on the minimum wage process, we have to look at the structure.

“Why must we adjust wages every five years? Why not two? Why not three years? What is a problem today, can be eased up tomorrow.

“There is much dynamism to this process if we are not myopic in our approaches. We can take a surgical approach that is based on pragmatism and a deep understanding of all factors.”

In his remarks, the NLC President, Ajaero, emphasised the need for an upward adjustment to the minimum wage, noting: “Between living wage and minimum wage, we need to find a balance. Things are difficult for the Nigerian worker.”

He congratulated the President on the judgment of the Supreme Court affirming the constitutional rights of local governments as regards financial autonomy and other salient principles.

“I have to congratulate you on the issue of local government autonomy. We have been in the streets protesting for local government autonomy.

“Now that there is light at the end of the tunnel. It will amount to ungratefulness if we fail to commend you,” the NLC President said.

The TUC President, Osifo, said inflation had adversely affected the value of the naira and that the measures initiated by the government to address the rising cost of food and transportation needed to kick in to give citizens relief.

He said the rollout of Compressed Natural Gas-powered buses would help in checking the high cost of transportation, while the recent directive on the suspension of duty on certain food imports will bring down the prices of food items, if properly implemented.

“We commend you on the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court. History will not forget what has happened today. With this judgment, we believe Nigeria will make progress,” the TUC President also said.