With just two days to the deadline given by the Nigeria Organised Labour to states to conclude negotiations on the implementation of the N30,000 new National Minimum Wage, some state governors are rushing to meet the cut-off date of the labour union.
Industrial unrest is however looming in nineteen states who have failed to constitute negotiation committees
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had in a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting with the state council chairmen last week said it would not be able to guarantee industrial peace and harmony in states that failed to conclude negotiations and began payment of the new minimum wage by December 31, 2019.
In the communiqué, which was jointly signed by the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba; General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja; and the National Chairperson of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (Trade Union side), Simon Anchaver; the NLC said states that had yet to commence negotiation might experience industrial disharmony from January if the governors refuse to do the needful.
As of the said date, the NLC noted that while states like Kaduna, Lagos, Kebbi and Adamawa had begun payment, some others like Kano, Abia and about nine others had constituted negotiating committees.
Others like Rivers, Ogun, Delta, Plateau, Gombe and about 14 others had yet to set up a negotiating committees.
The new minimum wage Act was signed into law on April 18, 2019, by President Muhammadu Buhari.
However, while Cross River, Taraba, and Ondo states have set up committees to negotiate with the unions before the deadline, Oyo, Gombe and Imo states have not shown commitment to meet up with the deadline.
Also, Benue, Enugu, Bayelsa and Ebonyi states have ruled out the possibility of meeting up with the deadline.
With additional information from the Nation Newspaper
