• Thursday, March 28, 2024
businessday logo

BusinessDay

Minimum wage: No resolution yet as FG, Labour continue talks Wednesday

minimum wage

Talks between the Federal Government and the Labour Unions will continue today, Wednesday, October 16, over the lingering issues of consequential adjustment on the N30,000 Minimum wage.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, told reporters after the close door meeting that ended in Abuja at about 8:30 pm on Tuesday that both parties had fruitful deliberations even as he expressed confidence that both sides will resolve the issues as they reconvene on Wednesday by 2pm.

Although the N30,000 minimum Labour had threatened that it will not guarantee industrial harmony if the government failed to resolve the issues by Wednesday, October 16.

Amaechi Asugwuni, Deputy President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, (NLC), who represented the Labour Movement, in the meeting said both sides have reached appreciable level of agreements. He however, added that there are grey areas, which may be sorted out tomorrow even as he urged the government to “shift ground positively to integrate the agitations ahead.” He added that tomorrow’s meeting will determine how the issues will be resolved.

Acting Head of Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan who represented the government side agreed that there are grey areas but expressed hope that tomorrow’s meeting could resolve the issues.

Before Tuesday’s meeting, Labour had demanded that the government make consequential movement of salary of grade levels 7-14 to 29 per cent and 24 per cent for grade level 15-17. Government however, offered 11 per cent adjustment for grade levels 7-14 and also offered 6.5 per cent for grade levels 15-17.

BusinessDay gathered that chances for the resolution of the crisis brightened as government has shifted ground from their earlier position to offer 17 per cent salary adjustment for levels 7-9. BusinessDay also gathered that government offers adjustment to 15 per cent for grade levels 10-15 and 12 per cent for grade levels 15 -17.

Labour on the hand, BusinessDay gathered, Labour had shifted ground and now demands 25 per cent adjustment for grade level 7-14 and 20 per cent for grade level 15- 17.

 Innocent Odoh, Abuja