Chairman of the tripartite committee on a new minimum wage, Buka Goni Aji, that the new wage would be based on what prevails in the country’s West African neighbours.
He stated this as President Bola T urged members of the committee to engage in collective bargaining in good faith but was countered by president of Nigeria labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, who contended that negotiation would be based on prevailing cost of living.
Goni, in his remarks after inauguration of the committee by President Tinubu, said: “He (President Tinubu) wants us to move forward.
”We don’t have any figure in mind. We want a very, very realistic approach, based on certain conventions on the reality of the Nigerian economy, based also on what you have in our neighbouring West Africa.
”Nigerian worker, everyone, deserves a rise in his pay package. Honestly, we want a situation where Nigerian workers are sufficiently motivated they would do very well. Because they are productive, because they are creative, they are full of initiatives, human resource base.
”I want to believe and strongly too that is second to none in Africa. That is why we are here today to ensure that our actions are in line and conformity with the law and expectation and aspirations with the Nigerian worker.”
Inaugurating the 37-member committee at the council chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, President Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, also told members of the committee, drawn from the government, organised labour and the private sector, to maintain the spirit of give and take.
He urged the members to “speedily” arrive at a resolution and submit their reports early as the current N30,000 minimum wage expires at the end of March 2024.
He urged them to take attendance to meeting seriously, adding that the minimum wage must be based on equity and social justice.
“This timely submission is crucial to ensure the emergence of a new minimum wage,” Tinubu said.
He also urged collective bargaining in good faith, emphasising contract adherence and encouraging consultations outside the committee.
Chairman of the Committee, Buka Goni Aji, in his remarks, said members of the committee shall make extensive consultation in order to arrive at a new national minimum wage that would be fair, practical, sustainable and implementable.
He affirmed that its members would come up with a “fair, practical, implementable and sustainable,” minimum wage.
Although President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, was absent at the meeting, the labour centre was, however, represented by the Deputy President, Prince Adeyanju Adewale.
Tuesday’s inauguration followed months of agitation from the organised labour over the government’s failure to inaugurate the new national minimum wage committee as promised during negotiations last October.
Minimumwage about cost of living—Ajaero
Meanwhile, President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, has said the forthcoming minimum wage negotiations must be based on cost of living and not just about give and take as requested by the vice president.
While reacting to the vice president’s inauguration speech, Ajaero, who explained that he had left the country for a scheduled trade union engagement before the government’s invitation for the inauguration got to the NLC’s secretariat, said the essence of every negotiation was compromise.
“However, national minimum wage is a reflection of objective realities driven by existential issues, such as cost of food beverages, housing, clothing, transport, communication, education, health care etc.
”These and others are the factors that must determine the eventual outcome for it to have any meaning. You do not play give and take with the lives of workers and Nigerians.
“It must be based on what does it cost the average Nigerian worker to survive or exist as a human being? That is where the compromise must be worked around, anything less than that makes the outcome less humane and reinforces poverty. The outcome must renew the hopes of Nigerians and not sabotage or betray it.
“My absence at the inauguration should not be an issue. The inauguration was just ceremonial and all the relevant stakeholders, including NLC leaders, were well represented at the inauguration.
”Let Nigerians know that they should look forward to the actual meetings that would mark the beginning of the negotiation process where all the parties will be expected to seriously canvass their positions,” Ajaero said.
Bring down prices for minimum wage to have meaning, NACCIMA tells govt
Also speaking, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Industry and Agriculture, NACCIMA, urged the government to ensure prices of commodities in the market were brought down for any minimum wage to make any meaning.
Humphrey Ngonadi, Life Vice President, NACCIMA, said: “Well, I thank God for this initiative that government is taking at this place. But I’m worried.
“We may remember some time ago, that an Udoji award was done. And that was the first time the salary of workers was increased and immediately after the increment, the commodity in the market ran up to meet it.”
”So while we are talking about minimum wage, I think the government on its own side, has to think on how to bring down the price of commodities in the market.”
