FG Bows To Labour

Following threats by the organised labour to down tools over the non-implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage, the federal government yesterday bowed to the demand by agreeing to implement the new wage from grade level 01 to 17.

This decision was reached at a meeting chaired by the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim. The minister of labour and productivity, Mr. Emeka Wogu who read the communique after two hours closed door meeting said the government would comply with the National Minimum Wage Act as signed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The minister added that government was also committed to using the relativity adjustment to the benefit of federal workers at all level.

“The federal government has agreed to comply with the national minimum wage Act of 2011. In line with the earlier agreement, government has concluded the discussion with the two labour centres, NLC and the TUC on the issue of the minimum wage.

The detailed negotiation on relativity adjustment with respect to the implementation of the minimum wage has been sorted out and agreed upon.

“Modalities will be worked out and this modalities that will be worked out by the joint committee will be tabled before the national executive councils of NLC and TUC.

“It is equally agreed that the implementation of the payment of what has been concluded upon today would begin August 2011. Equally, the spirit of this negotiation is that whatever role anybody plays especially from the TUC and NLC nobody will bevictimised by government and this is the conclusion. I think when they finish from their NAC meeting they will communicate government on the outcome of such meeting”.

Speaking on the matter, TUC president-general, Peter Esele noted that the outcome of the negotiation would be discussed at the national executive council (NEC), of the various unions.

Esele was optimistic that the issue of relativity was addressed and agreed upon by both parties, stressing that the federal government has agreed to implement the new wage increase across board.

“We are going to put what the federal government offers on the table first. That is why we are taking it back to our principals so that there would be discussion around it and we can arrive at a decision. Each sector will negotiate with various organs of the union. Now we have to go back to the organ of the Trade Union if we are not satisfied or have any ill-feelings about it, we can just come here and say, they are not accepting it. There is a window around it that we want to take back to our principal, if they accept the window, fine”. When asked about the details of the new agreement with the federal government, Esele however declined to disclose the details of the window, saying, “no, I can’t tell you that until after our meeting.”

NLC president Abdulwahed Omar said: “Basically, the discussion on relativity would have been concluded by 31st of July but unfortunately, it’s segmented because of one or two areas of non-agreement. Majorly in the area of adjustment across the board, as a result of compliance with the new minimum wage Act, this adjustment now cuts across the board in order to maintain some reasonable relativity.“

According to Omar, “ unfortunately we saw immediately thereafter that everything was to start with grade levels 01 to 06. I am happy that we have been able to sort out this today and also the issue of adjustment cutting across board will be sorted out by the joint technical committee. Hopefully from this moment, all these are the major areas of contention that delayed the whole agreement up till now.

“Because of this development...the respective labour centres will now make formal presentations to their respective organs in a meeting between today and tomorrow. Whatever agreement we are able to reach, we would communicate to government for the implementation of the new minimum wage.”

SOURCE: Leadership Newspaper 3 August 2011.  http://www.leadership.ng