A peaceful resolution over the minimum wage palaver may be underway with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the labour union leaders meeting Thursday following which they agreed to continue parley next week.
Addressing journalists at the end of the one-hour parley with Mr. President Thursday in Abuja, President Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero said the labour leaders only discussed and never negotiated while the meeting lasted.
Ajaero said: “In the real sense, it wasn’t a negotiation but a discussion and we have had that discussion. We agreed to look at the real terms probably and reconvene in the next week.
“So that’s where we are because we didn’t go down there to talk naira and kobo. At least, there were some basic issues that we agreed on.”
Asked what the labour leaders’ position is on the N250, 000 benchmark set by them, he said: “I remember mentioning that we didn’t go into naira and kobo discussion. Now the status quo in terms of the amount N250, 000 and N62, 000 remains until we finish this conversation.”
Also speaking, President Trade Union Congress (TUC) Festus Osifo said the organised labour put all the economic indices on the table and how it was biting on Nigerians.
He said: “In the meeting, we tried to put the issues on the table. Issues that are bordering and biting Nigerians today, the economic difficulties and the value of naira, how it has also eroded, how these have affected the prices of commodities and goods in the market.
“So, we tried to put these before Mr President because he is the President of the country and the bulk stops at his table.
“We have had all the conversations with all his agents, but today (Thursday) we said let us meet with the father of the country and have this conversation and make the argument that Labour always make.
“We made all the arguments, the economic analysis, macro, micro, fiscal and monetary issues. So we put everything forward and at the end, the President made his remark as the President and we all agreed. Let’s go back to internalize it, have some conversations and by one week time, we will come back and we will continue the meeting.”
…Tinubu
Earlier, President Tinubu had told the meeting that Nigerian workers deserve improved welfare, better wages, as well as safe and enhanced working conditions as the driving force of the nation.
President Tinubu said he was concerned about the welfare of Nigerian workers and that his administration was prioritising their concerns.
“I pay attention to everything around me. A happy worker is a productive worker. And society depends on the productivity of the happy worker,” the president said in statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
However, President Tinubu told the workers that: “You have to cut your coat according to available cloth. Before we can finalise on the minimum wage process, we have to look at the structure.
“Why must we adjust wages every five years? Why not two? Why not three years? What is a problem today, can be eased up tomorrow. There is much dynamism to this process if we are not myopic in our approaches. We can take a surgical approach that is based on pragmatism and a deep understanding of all factors.”
In his remarks, the NLC President, Comrade Ajaero, emphasized the need for an upward adjustment to the minimum wage, noting: “Between living wage and minimum wage, we need to find a balance. Things are difficult for the Nigerian worker.”
He congratulated the President on the judgement of the Supreme Court affirming the constitutional rights of local governments as regards financial autonomy and other salient principles.
“I have to congratulate you on the issue of local government autonomy. We have been in the streets protesting for local government autonomy. Now that there is light at the end of the tunnel, it will amount to ungratefulness if we fail to commend you,” the NLC president said.
On his part, TUC President, Comrade Osifo, said inflation has adversely affected the value of the naira and that the measures initiated by the government to address the rising cost of food and transportation need to kick in to give citizens relief.
He said the rollout of Compressed Natural Gas-powered buses will help in checking the high cost of transportation, while the recent directive on the suspension of duty on certain food imports will bring down the prices of food items, if properly implemented.
“We commend you on the landmark judgement of the Supreme Court. History will not forget what has happened today. With this judgement, we believe Nigeria will make progress,” the Osifo said.