In what appears to be the last efforts to avert a looming industrial action over the N30,000 minimum wage, the Federal Government and the labour unions will on Tuesday October 15 meet once again to resolve some of the lingering issues concerning the consequential adjustment in the minimum wage.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment in a statement on Monday said the meeting of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) and Labour is scheduled for 1.30pm tomorrow (Tuesday) in the Minister’s conference room.
Negotiations have broken down severally as the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) after receiving briefing from the JNPSNC, issued a statement recently warning that if the issues of the consequential adjustment were not addressed by Wednesday October 16, the Labour movement would have no other alternative than to call its members nationwide to embark on a total strike.
Although grade level 1-6 according to the government has started receiving their salary increase of N30,000 minimum wage from N18,000, since the new minimum wage was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on April 18, Labour is demanding a 29% adjustment on the salary of grade level 7-14 and. It also demands for salary increase of 24% for grade level 15 -17, while the government is offering 11% for the level 7-14 and 6.5% for level 15 -17.
Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige last week attributed the controversy over the consequential adjustment of the new National Minimum Wage to a mistaken belief on the part of Organised Labour that the consequential adjustment is synonymous with a total wage review, arguing that the two are not the same.
“On the issue of consequential adjustment I want the Labour to understand that the consequential adjustment is not synonymous with a total wage review. It is an adjustment that you do consequential to moving the last man at the last strung of the ladder to N30,000 and by so doing you have now impinged on other salary grade levels and therefore you must consequentially move them up,” the minister said.
Meanwhile the NLC has written to its state councils directing them to prepare for strike on October 16 if negotiation with the government breaks down again.
The NLC in a circular sent to state councils, its General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, on Sunday October 13, advised the state councils to prepare for strike in case the proposed negotiations scheduled for October 15 with the Federal Government broke down.
“You will recall that a joint Communiqué was issued by the NLC, Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Committee (JNPSNC) stating that two weeks from the date of the said communiqué, industrial harmony could not be guaranteed in the country should an agreement not be reached with the Federal Government on the Consequential Adjustment of Salaries as a result of the New National Minimum Wage of N30, 000.
“You are hereby directed to coordinate preparation with TUC and JPSNC in your states for necessary industrial action should the time expire without agreement as contained in the circular” the NLC said.
Innocent Odoh, Abuja
