The proposed implementation of a N30,000 minimum salary starting in April 2024 by the Bola Tinubu administration has elicited a response from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Speaking on Tuesday at the 19th iteration of the NLC 2023 Harmattan School in Abuja, NLC president Joe Ajaero stated that the new national minimum wage negotiations would start in 2024 and be determined by the current cost of living in the nation.
In the person of NLC vice president Benjamin Anthony, Ajaero stated that all tiers of government must acknowledge the extreme difficulties of existence and living circumstances.
He claimed that “the elimination of petroleum product subsidies has further worsened the challenges faced by working people.”
That is causing excruciating suffering, accelerating inflation, and escalating poverty and inequality.
It is imperative to acknowledge that a highly motivated and fairly compensated labor force positively influences both national development and productivity.
“Since we expect the National Minimum Wage negotiations to start in 2024.
In order to take advantage of this chance to determine a minimum wage that is in line with the current cost of living, he continued, “we seek the understanding of all stakeholders.”
The ultimate objective, according to Ajaero, is to set a living wage that compensates employees for their expenses while also allowing for some savings.
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According to him, there is a serious risk to collective bargaining and the freedom of association because of the recent attack on laborers and their leaders in Imo.
This is as stated in ILO Conventions 87 and 98 on Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining, as well as Section 40 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution as modified.
“Every good-hearted person should categorically denounce this. Our suffering can only be alleviated if the Imo Government takes up all labor-related matters.
He declared, “They must also pay all unpaid salaries and pensions, reinstate all victimized workers, and return the so-called ‘ghost workers’ to their jobs.”
As a component of the NLC National Schools, the Harmattan School develops the skills of its connected union members in order to train and empower them.
