The prolonged delay of implementation of the minimum wage has forced labour unions to declare industrial nationwide action across the nation ahead of the expiration of the ultimatum issued by the labour unions.
A communique was issued by Labour leaders that if the federal government fails to reconvene a meeting of the committee on consequential adjustments of workers salaries based on the new minimum wage, they would shut down economic activities on October 16th, 2019
Labour unions under the leadership of the National Labour Congress (NLC) insisted that the government should hold a final meeting on October 15 to resolve the disagreements. Although several deliberations and resolutions have been made by the unions and federal government the controversy attached to the minimum wage remains a puzzle.
We learnt that both parties met on Wednesday after the first phase of negotiations collapsed due to percentage differences between the two parties, the federal government’s negotiating team and the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, which is representing labour unions in the negotiation, are scheduled to meet again on October 15.
The meetings notwithstanding, labour unions are preparing for strike action should their demands not be met. The General Secretary of Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, Alade Lawal, last week said mobilisation of workers for a possible industrial action after October 16 had reached an advanced stage.
He said the partial implementation of the minimum wage for levels one to six was a ‘divide and rule’ system that would be vehemently opposed by labour. In furtherance to the union’s threat, the General Secretary of the NLC, Emma Ugbiaja, has now asked the union’s members to prepare for industrial action should no agreement be reached by Wednesday.
”You will recall that a Joint Communique… said industrial harmony could not be guaranteed in the country should an agreement not be reached with the Federal Government on the Consequential Adjustment of Salaries as a result of the New National Minimum Wage of N30,000,”
”You are hereby directed to coordinate preparations with TUC and JPSNC in your State for necessary industrial action should the time expire without an agreement as contained in the communique” the letter by Mr Ugbiaja to the union’s members reads.
