Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) says the January 31, 2020 deadline issued to state governments to implement the new national minimum wage of N30,000, is not intended to disrupt the national economy, but to compel each of the state governments to comply with the law.
Musa Lawal secretary general of TUC, who stated this, also confirmed that mobilisation for the planned show down with the state governments is at its peak, and that affiliate councils in states not ready to pay the new wage, are only waiting for a directive from the national leadership of the TUC.
Lawal spoke exclusively with BusinessDay on Tuesday, adding that the congress will be meeting on January 28, to review the level of compliance by the 36 states. The review, according to him, will guide the union in its planned action with each of the defaulting states.
“Our state councils are continuing mobilisation as earlier directed. The intent is not to shut down the economy, but to make sure that the state governments comply with the minimum wage law. However, since we issued the ultimatum about two weeks ago, two or three additional states have shown commitment to negotiate with labour. But I can’t give you the exact number of states who have agreed to pay until we meet on January 28 to review the states,” said Lawal.
Issues bordering on minimum wage in Nigeria are in the exclusive legislative list; meaning that the Federal Government (with input from states, labour and private sector representatives), decides what national minimum wage should be. Once endorsed by the National Assembly and signed by a sitting President, it becomes a law and binding on state governments. Minimum wage is the benchmark that employers of labour in the formal sector and government at all levels are required by law not to go below.
State governments have, however, complained against this constitutional provision, arguing that matters on wage should be re-routed to the concurrent legislative list which allows both the federal and state governments to negotiate and legislate independently.
While only about six states have been confirmed by labour to commit to implementing the new minimum wage,the Federal Government had since commenced payment with arrears backdated to May 2019. The law was signed into effect by President Muhammadu buhari in April, 2019.
JOSHUA BASEY
