New minimum wage committee begins negotiations

THIRTY-nine days after a 16-man committee was given two weeks to

conclude negotiations on a new minimum wage, the committee has met
only once.
On May 26, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)
Babachir David Lawal announced the composition of the committee to
work out a new minimum wage for workers.
Acting General Secretary of a faction of the Nigerian Labour Congress
(NLC) and committee member, Mr Chris Onyedika said talks on the
agreement in May that between the Federal Government and factions of
the NLC has started.
Onyedika said the committee has met once before now and that
negotiations would include government’s proposed N500 billion pal­
liatives to cushion effects of the pump price of petrol.
“The 16-man committee will review government’s liberalisation of the
downstream sector of the petroleum industry, leading to the new fuel
pump price of N145 per litre. The committee will also discuss the re-
constitution of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency
(PPPRA) Board, among other issues, before presenting their
recommendations to government,’’ Onyedika said.
Two months ago, government increased the pump price of a litre of
petrol from N86.50 to N145, which led to some agitation by the NLC.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) pulled out of the strike at the last
minute. To further put a dent on the NLC strike, the Federal Gov­
ernment chose to negotiate with the Joe Ajaero faction of the NLC,
which further weakened the strike. The industrial action, which was not
effective nationwide, lasted only a few days before it was called off.
Thereafter, NLC National President, Ayuba Wabba agreed to a
roundtable discussion with government on the way forward; with a
caveat that the Ajaero faction would not be involved.
Meanwhile, the Joint Negotiation Council (JNC) has also agitated for
increase in national minimum wage for workers, which was last re­
viewed five years ago.
While the Wabba faction demanded “N56,000 as a realistic minimum
wage,” the Ajaero faction said N90, 000, instead of the extant N18,000,
would be ideal for workers.
On its part, government is proposing N45,000 as the new minimum
wage, hence the need for the joint committee to iron out the differ­
ences.
Culled from: http://sunnewsonline.com/new-minimum-wage-
committee-begins-negotiations/