The organised labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have rejected President Bola Tinubu’s N25,000 Provisional wage increase for the average low-grade worker.
Speaking during his October 1st national broadcast, Tinubu stated that the salary review is to cushion the effect of the removal of the petrol subsidy.
Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast on the occasion of Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Anniversary said: “Based on our talks with labour, business and other stakeholders, we are introducing a provisional wage increment to enhance the federal minimum wage without causing undue inflation. For the next six months, the average low-grade worker shall receive an additional Twenty-Five Thousand naira per month.
“Commencing this month, the social safety net is being extended through the expansion of cash transfer programs to an additional 15 million vulnerable households.”
According to Vanguard, organised labour in their meeting with the Federal Government asked for 100 percent of the current minimum wage.
Labour also insisted that the provisional wage should be for all workers and that it will not be limited to only six months but rather be running till the new minimum wage is approved next year.
The organised labour also insisted that the Conditional Cash Transfer for the poorest and vulnerable people should be increased to N25,000 and not the N5,000 the previous administration was paying.
After many hours of horse trading, the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, who is leading the government delegation at the meeting has to break, to go and consult with the President on the new demands.
Gbajabiamila was accompanied by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong.