*Memorandum signed, modalities will be adhered to – Ngige
*As labour insists on N30, 000 minimum wage
*Warns FG against reneging on its promise
At last, Federal Government has bowed to pressure from the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC as it agrees to send the Minimum Wage Bill to National Assembly on January 23 for immediately consideration and passage into law.
Government’s decision may not be unconnected with the threat by the organized labour to embark on an industrial action as such would not augur well with the political environment with a little over a month to the February 16 presidential election.
It would be recalled that the federal government has repeatedly dithered on the labour’s demand for a new wage figure, refusing to commit to N30, 000 recommended by a tripartite committee set up on the minimum wage issue.
The President had assured NLC and its affiliates that he would review the recommendation and send a bill backing a new wage figure to the National Assembly, a promise he is yet to fulfill.
However, with the protest embarked upon by the organized labour on Tuesday and a threat to follow it up with a nationwide strike, the government had not choice than to agree to sent the bill to the National Assembly on January 23.With the Nigeria Labour Congress and its affiliate unions threatening a protest and a nationwide strike, the government on Tuesday agreed to send the bill on January 23.
Although the labour unions agreed to the decision which came after three days of talks, it warned that it would not tolerate any breach threatening that such breach may lead to necessary action without reverting to the government.
Speaking on the new development, the national president of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, urged the government to keep to the date so that the process can be completed.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC yesterday held nationwide protests over the demand for the new minimum wage.
Speaking at the Abuja rally, NLC President, Ayuba Wabba said most Nigerian workers are unable to eat three times per day adding that the N30, 000 minimum wages has become necessary so that workers should be able to take care of their family.
The labour leader said workers built the Nigerian economy and “there is no way we can be described as tiny minority”, adding that their welfare and wellbeing must be paramount.
“We want to say that workers are very central to economic development. They are very central to the prosperity of any country and therefore we cannot be described as the tiny minority.
“Nigerian workers are an asset and must be celebrated. Anywhere around the world where there is progress, workers are celebrated. Workers must be able to take care of their families, they must be able to feed well, they must be able to pay children’s school fees, but today most workers are unable to feed three meals per day because the minimum wage of N18,000 is no longer enough to cater for their basic needs.
“Workers create the wealth of any nation. If we create the wealth of Nigeria then we must partake in the sharing of such wealth and therefore the welfare of workers must be paramount. That was why we said that this rally will take place at the length and breadth of the country.
“Therefore we have agreed on the negotiation table which took us up to one year negotiating. Workers have been patience and more considerate and we look at all issues and we agreed on the N30, 000”, he stated.
The tripartite committee on the minimum wage in November 2018 presented its report to President Muhammadu Buhari and expected it to be forwarded to the National Assembly after two weeks.
Our correspondent observed some of the protesters carrying placard with inscriptions, such as “minimum wage is not negotiable, it is our right”, ” give us our new minimum wage now”, “upward review of minimum wage will not trigger inflation”.
Others were, “minimum wage is willingness to pay and not ability to pay”, “minimum age will boost Nigeria’s economy” and among others.
On his part, Labour and Employment Minister, Chris Ngige assured labour leaders of government’s sincerity on the issue of transmitting the National Minimum Wage Bill to National Assembly on the agreed stressing that all modalities on the issue has been duly singed.
