The federal government has urged the Organised Labour to settle for a national minimum wage that will not undermine the national economy and lead to mass retrenchment of workers.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris made the appeal while declaring open the 2024 Synod of the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria in Abuja Wednesday.
He emphasised the need for a realistic and sustainable wage system that balances workers’ needs with the country’s economic realities.
The minister acknowledged the government’s commitment to reviewing the minimum wage but cautioned against demands that could harm the economy.
Idris highlighted the government’s efforts to reduce the cost of living and increase Nigerians’ purchasing power through programs like the Presidential CNG initiative, which aims to cut transportation costs by 50%.
He said: “As I have repeatedly said, the Federal Government is not opposed to the increase of wages for Nigerian Workers but we keep on advocating for a realistic and sustainable wage system for the workers – a wage system that will not undermine the economy, lead to mass retrenchment of workers and jeopardize the welfare of about 200 million Nigerians.
“We want the Labour Unions to understand that the relief that Nigerians are expecting, and that they fully deserve, will not come only in the form of an increase in wages.
“It will also come as efforts to reduce the cost of living and to ensure that more money stays in the pockets of Nigerians. And this is where programs like the Presidential CNG initiative come in. By replacing or complementing petrol usage with CNG, that program alone will cut transportation costs by as much as 50 percent.
The minister appealed to the clergy to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for Nigeria’s renaissance and pray for wisdom and guidance as the country navigates its current challenges.sion of essential social services such as hospitals and schools, as well as the inculcation of values in our citizens.
“Even as we go through
“Very importantly also, we need you to be aware of the efforts being made, and the challenges being faced, so that you can help us communicate these to your congregations and the general public,” the minister said.
Noting that President Tinubu stepped into power at the most challenging time for Nigeria, Idris said the president was working assiduously to ensure sustainable development across the country.
He said: “There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Mr. President stepped up with a great sense of courage and responsibility. Last year, he has been implementing crucial and comprehensive reforms aimed at steering our country back onto the path of growth, prosperity, and sustainable development.
“President Tinubu has never shied away from acknowledging the reality of these pains. In his Democracy Day address delivered to the nation just this morning, President Tinubu summed it up very aptly: “The reforms we have initiated are intended to create a stronger, better foundation for future growth.
“There is no doubt the reforms have occasioned hardship. Yet, they are necessary repairs required to fix the economy over the long run so that everyone has access to economic opportunity, fair pay, and compensation for his endeavour and labour.”
“Indeed, as a nation, we are enduring short-term sacrifice, for long-term benefits. We are inspired by the bigger picture of a Nigeria where no one is left behind,” the minister added.
He hinted that his ministry would collaborate with the clergymen in the implementation of the national orientation programme- the National Values Charter.
…Bishops pledge support
Earlier, the National President of the Charismatic Bishop Conference, Arch-Bishop Leonard Bature Kawas, pledged the loyalty and support to the administration of President Tinubu, stressing that they would continue to partner with the government to achieve its vision for Nigeria.
He clarified that they invited the minister, who is a Muslim, to declare their conference open, because they see in him a detribalized Nigerian who harbours no religious differences.
Kawas said the conference was being attended by bishops from the 36 states of the federation and 21 countries.
…Labour insists on N250, 000
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on President Tinubu to allow his democratic credentials favour the Nigerian workers and masses.
It also said there was no agreement reached at the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee as alluded to by the president in his Democracy Day’s nationwide broadcast.
Tinubu had, in the broadcast Wednesday said: “The reforms we have initiated are intended to create a stronger, better foundation for future growth. There is no doubt the reforms have occasioned hardship. Yet, they are necessary repairs required to fix the economy over the long run so that everyone has access to economic opportunity, fair pay and compensation for his endeavour and labour. As we continue to reform the economy, I shall always listen to the people and will never turn my back on you.
“In this spirit, we have negotiated in good faith and with open arms with organized labour on a new national minimum wage. We shall soon send an executive bill to the National Assembly to enshrine what has been agreed upon as part of our law for the next five years or less.
“In the face of labour’s call for a national strike, we did not seek to oppress or crack down on the workers as a dictatorial government would have done. We chose the path of cooperation over conflict.
“No one was arrested or threatened. Instead, the labour leadership was invited to break bread and negotiate toward a good-faith resolution.
“Reasoned discussion and principled compromise are hallmarks of democracy. These themes shall continue to animate my policies and interaction with the constituent parts of our political economy.”
…NLC counters
But in his reaction to the broadcast, acting NLC president, Comrade Prince Adewale Adeyanju, said the committee had not reached an agreement on what should be the national minimum wage.
Adeyanju, a deputy president of the Congress, in a statement Wednesday in Abuja, claimed the president was not properly briefed on what transpired at the meeting.
The labour leader who made the clarification in a statement in Abuja, said: “We appreciate the President’s commitment to those fine democratic ideals which allowed the work of the Tripartite National Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee to proceed unhindered despite some hiccups.
“However, we had expected Mr. President to have used this understanding as one of those who was in the vanguard of the struggle with us around the nation to rescue Nigeria from the hands of the military to harmonize the two figures submitted to him by the Tripartite Committee in favour of workers and masses. It would have been a fitting Democracy Day gift.
“The NLC would have expected that the advisers of the President would have told him that we neither reached any agreement with the federal government and the employers on the base figure for a National Minimum Wage nor on its other components.”
Continuing, the NLC said: “Our demand still remains N250,000 (two hundred and fifty thousand Naira) only and we have not been given any compelling reasons to change this position which we consider a great concession by Nigerian workers during the tripartite negotiation process.
“We are therefore surprised at the submission of Mr. President over a supposed agreement. We believe that he may have been misled into believing that there was an agreement with the NLC and TUC.
“There was none and it is important that we let the President, Nigerians and other national stakeholders understand this immediately to avoid a mix up in the ongoing conversation around the national minimum wage.
“We have also not seen a copy of the document submitted to him and will not accept any doctored document. However, we want to reaffirm our belief that the President on whose table the Tripartite Committee’s report presently resides would prepare an Executive Bill which content will reflect the true demand of Nigerian workers.
“We think that this is an opportunity for him to demonstrate his love for Nigerian workers and masses by shunning the pieces of advice that may be coming from those whose intentions are continuously focused on hurting the poor and struggling workers of Nigeria.
“Mr. President should not allow these individuals and groups to sabotage his promise of lifting Nigerian workers out of poverty.
“President’s advisers obviously did not tell him the truth that the leaders of the trade unions were intimidated and harassed.”
…Alleges threat
“It is therefore important that Mr. President understands that we were threatened severally by his operatives perhaps without his consent.
“Series of media Propaganda calculated to intimidate and harass us were, and, are still being waged against the trade unions by senior officials of this government.
“Fully armed soldiers surrounded us while we were in a negotiation with the Government and despite denials, recent statements by senior officials of the Government reaffirmed our fears contrary to the assurances by the Government.
“However, we remain assured that the President’s democratic credentials will come to the fore in favour of Nigerian workers and masses.
“It is also important that Mr. President should know that most of his officers are working round the clock to set up the leadership of congress and the trade unions.
“We never agreed on a 5-year duration of the minimum wage Act though we acknowledge that the President mentioned 5 years or less. We also agreed that inflation should be pegged at a level for certain amount to be agreed as minimum wage. This is to bring clarity to what the report should contain.
“Once again, we reiterate that it will be extremely difficult for Nigerian workers to accept any national minimum wage figure that approximates to a starvation Wage. We cannot be working and yet remain in abject poverty. We seek justice, equity and fairness for all Nigerians and this we hope would also drive the actions of Mr. President who promised a Living Wage to Nigerian workers. This is an opportunity to show that he listens to Nigerians as he promised!
“Together, we can build a stronger democratic nation based on equity which guarantees prosperity to the majority of the citizenry and not one where few individuals monopolize our collective resources.
“That is the only way to build a sustainable democracy. It is the true democracy that we all yearn for as a people,” the statement added.
