…As FG Dares ASUU, Comply With IPPIS Or Regret Actions
Williams Anuku Abuja
Indications emerged on Tuesday, that the long drawn battle regarding the new minimum wage may be far from over, as the organized labour unions have threatened a “shutdown” of the economy, should the governors renege on the recent consequential adjustments.
The fresh threat was issued by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, led by Simon Anchaver.
Already the governors, under the auspices of the Nigerian Governors Forum have insisted that the template in the consequential agreement approved by the federal government was not binding on them.
In the consequential adjustments agreed upon by the labour stakeholders at the federal level, workers on grade levels 07 will henceforth receive a 23.2percent increase in their salaries, staff on grade 08 will get 20percent increase, 09, 19percent, between 10-14 will are expecting a raise of 16percent while levels 15-17 will get 14percent respectively.
The threat is coming on the heels of recent directive by the Federal Government that the implementation of the new minimum wage begins from April 18th when it was signed into law by the President, Muhammadu Buhari.
However, Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige had previously hinted that the template for the consequential adjustments will be forwarded to states to guide them in their implementation.
Labour is however insisting that it will not accept any breach of the so-called consequential adjustment agreement, which details how the minimum wage of N30,000 will be implemented across various salary scales.
The group, however, said they were open to negotiations with the states, and would welcome implementation that takes into consideration how much the various states earn monthly.
According to Anchaver, any negotiations will mean states will first have to open their books and let Nigerians know how much they generate internally.
He said the new wage is a law that has been signed by the President.
“Since it is a law, the state government must pay, first and foremost, they should declare how much they are collecting from their respective state revenue then we will know if it is commensurable to pay minimum wage,” he said.
“There could be “give and take” during such talks with the states once they disclose their revenues. Such negotiation should be supervised by federal officials.
“Labour unions will meet on November 5 and we will address the joint councils at the various state. “We will give them templates that will guide them on the implementation.
“Let us warn that “we are ready for shutdown if any of the agreement is breached,” he stressed.
General Secretary, Nigerian Labour Congress, Emma Ugboaja, had stated that no state could discard the fact that a minimum wage of N30,000 would be at the centre of every negotiation.
“Everybody will negotiate differently based on the state economy but what is sacrosanct is the minimum wage of N30,000 and how that will be adjusted across the board is the function of collective bargaining between the workforce and government,” he said.
Meanwhile the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zanaib Ahmed has dared the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU against flouting the directive to subscribe to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
While briefing State House Correspondents after the National Economic Council meeting chaired by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, she said whether the union embarks on strike, it will not deter the government from including them in the IPPIS in their own interest.
