The move to start paying the approved thirty thousand naira minimum wage has suffered another setback following a sharp disagreement at a meeting between labour leaders and government representatives
At the meeting chaired by the Head of service of the federation, Winifred Oyo-ita, both the Nigerian government and the labour teams of the joint public service negotiating council only made minor adjustment to their earlier positions
Government decided to step up from 9.5 percent to 11 percent for grade levels seven to 14 and 6.5 percent from 5.5 percent for levels 15 to 17.
Chairman of the labour team, Simon Anchaver who spoke exclusively with The News Track said, workers stepped down to 29 from 30 percent for grade levels 7 to 14 and 24 from 25 percent for levels 15 to 17
Anchaver said labour negotiating team has also resolved to write to the Nigeria Labour congress, NLC and the trade union congress, TUC on their advise to consider an industrial action
He said government’s foot dragging is an invitation for industrial action, since workers are already engulfed in fear and agitations whether their accumulated arrears will be paid when talks are finally concluded
He said just like the last inconclusive meeting, the two positions at the end of talks are to be presented to Mr. President for further actions
President Buhari signed into law thirty thousand naira national minimum wage in April, 2019, six months down the line, no implementation has been effected yet.
