THIS DAY
•Pleads with NLC, TUC to withdraw strike warning
•To resume payment of wage award this week
•Labour foresees stalemate in negotiation for new minimum wage, kicks against panel composition
•NASS vows to enforce payment of living wage to workers
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The federal government has commenced discussions with organised labour to try to forestall a looming industrial action by workers over alleged poor implementation of the fuel subsidy removal palliatives, including payment of N35, 000 wage award.
Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, who confirmed the talks, said negotiations on the new minimum wage had also commenced. Onyejeocha said the negotiation would be gradual, adding that they would seek to address all concerns by the workers.
But the federal government urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) not to carry out their threat of industrial action. The government promised to resume the payment of wage award to workers this week.
Amid growing concerns over the unrelenting economic hardship in the country, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labour and Employment, Senator Diket Plang, assured that the National Assembly would support any move to introduce a living wage for Nigerian workers.
Speaking at the Second National Labour Adjudication and Arbitration Forum organised by the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), held in Abuja, yesterday, Onyejeocha said, “We have commenced negotiation with labour on the minimum wage on Monday.
“In fact, I will say that we started the engagement with organised labour immediately after the Christmas holiday, when I visited the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and that of Trade Union Congress in Abuja.”
Onyejeocha said the committee would adopt the principle of social dialogue and tripartite engagement to resolve most of the issues that might arise during the negotiation.
Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, also said the federal government was desirous of a minimum wage that was fair, sustainable, and beneficial to all stakeholders.
Akume, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the SGF Office, Mr. Richard Pheelangwa, said the government was pushing for a new minimum wage.
On ways of resolving disagreements, the SGF said embracing alternative dispute resolution mechanism might sometimes provide a quicker way of resolving labour disputes, rather than the traditional conflict resolution method.
Akume said, “This forum coincides with the commencement of deliberations by the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage. This critical juncture underscores the immense significance of our gathering…
