Should the federal Government continues the observed dilly-dally posture to the rejected offer made by government on the consequential adjustment for workers on salaries 07 and above, the leadership of organised labour in Nigeria says there will be no guarantee of industrial peace after the close of work on Wednesday October 16.
There had been running trouble ever since the issue of consequential adjustment of the minimum wage remained unresolved even as at the recent meeting of the National Executives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), out rightly rejected government offer, saying it does represent the aspiration of Nigerian workers.
The decision was taken after hours of deliberating the reports of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) to the negotiation table with the Federal Government team on the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage for workers on salary scale Level 07 upward.
There had been a deadlock on the percentage of increase for workers on Levels 07 to 14 and those from Levels 15 to 17. Government has refused to shift ground on the offer to pay 11% for Levels 07 to 14 and 6.5% to Levels 14 to 17, while Labour reviewed its earlier position of 66.6% downward to 29% increase for Level 07 to 14 and 24% for Levels 15 to 17. After receiving briefing from JNPSNC and the way forward, Labour concluded that it demonstrated enough understanding and patriotism be accepting to shift positions, but lamenting that Government had not reciprocated.
The decision was contained in a communiqué issued after the leadership was briefed at the Labour House, Abuja, by members of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC).
The communiqué signed by NLC President Ayuba Wabba, his TUC counterpart Quadri Olaleye, JNPSNC Chairman, Simon Anchaver and Secretary Alade Bashir Lawal, said they cannot guarantee industrial harmony if their demands are not met at the close of work on October16.
The communiqué reads: “We view the position of the government as a show of insensitivity to the plight of workers and an attempt to collect with the left hand what government had offered with the right hand.
“We demand the reconvening of the meeting of the committee negotiating the consequential adjustment with a view to concluding the process that started on the 28th of May, 2019 within one week.”
“Entering into an agreement with labour to the effect that salary of officers on grade 07-14 should be reviewed upward by 29 per cent while that of officers on grade level 15-17 should be reviewed upwards by 24 per cent and commence immediate implementation of the signed agreement on consequential adjustment of public workers’ salaries with effect from 18th of April 2019 when the new national minimum wage of N30, 000 per month was signed into law,” the unions maintained.
