The President of Nigeria Labour
Congress, NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, has described the agreement reached between
labour unions and the Federal Government on the new minimum wage as a victory
for Nigerian workers.
The
federal government and the labour unions finally sorted out the issues of
consequential adjustment for other categories of workers after three days of
meeting which ended early today.
Under the agreement reached, the
core civil servants on grade level 7 are to get (23.2 per cent) adjustment;
grade level 8 (20 per cent); grade level 9 (19 per cent); grade levels 10 to14
(16 per cent); and grade levels 15 to 17, (14 per cent).
However, Wabba said the new
salary structure would be beneficial to wokers in the public sector.
In a statement he personally
signed, the NLC President also commended all workers and affiliate unions for
their support, solidarity and unity of purpose all through the negotiations.
He said: “We want to thank all
Nigerian workers and our affiliate unions for their support, solidarity and
unity of purpose throughout the difficult negotiations. It is heartwarming that
the process was eventually rewarding.
”We must say that, as always, we
were disappointed by the antics of those whose interest lies elsewhere than the
common goal of protecting and advancing the interest of ordinary Nigerian
workers.
“We wish to emphasize that the
hard-won salary adjustment will benefit all categories of workers including
those in the military and para-military services. Apart from workers, the
recent salary increase will also benefit ordinary citizens, especially those in
the informal sector as the increase in the available disposable income of
workers will translate into a stronger purchasing power for our people.
“This will however only be
sustainable if traders and providers of essential services refrain from
artificial inflation of the prices of goods and services. It makes more sense
to sell more at a stable price than sell little or nothing at inflated prices.
Certainly, we have learnt from our past mistakes that inflation of prices with
adjustment in salaries is a roulette game in which the downtrodden masses are
the victims.
“We also call on government to
refrain from introducing counter-productive economic policies and decisions
that would erode the recent wage gain achieved by workers. Any further increase
in the prices of petroleum products, electricity tariff and personal income
taxes would amount to collecting with the left hand what is given to workers
with the right hand. The leadership of organized labour will resist such move.
”Arising from our successful
negotiation with the Federal Government, it is expected that all employers of
labour in the public sector must ensure that all the necessary formalities for
a smooth implementation of the negotiated salaries based on the new national
minimum wage are carried out with immediate effect.
”While commending state
governments that have already commenced implementation of the new national
minimum wage, we urge that the implementation should be a product of collective
bargaining process in line with ILO Convention 98 on Organizing and Collective
Bargaining.
”Furthermore, all employers of
labour in the thirty-six states of the federation and the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT) as well as the Organized Private Sector (OPS) are expected to
complete the implementation process of the new national minimum wage and consequential
wage adjustment forthwith.
”State Councils of the Nigeria
Labour Congress are hereby directed to offer leadership and work harmoniously
with the TUC and JNPSNC and all unions to ensure effective implementation of
the new national minimum wage and the consequential salary adjustment that must
be reached through a process of collective bargaining.”
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