The new minimum wage battle between the Federal Government and the organized labour seems to be softening down. This is as indication appears from the Trade Union Congress, TUC, one of the strong party in the labour struggle. The TUC has stated that the demand for N250, 000 wage is not sacrosanct.
This was contained in a statement by the TUC President during a programme on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, The Morning Brief, on Friday.
Speaking on the ongoing deadlock between the FG and organized labour, Osifo said there was “no figure that is sacrosanct. There is no figure that is cast on stone that both parties will be fixated on it.”
“What we said is that for us, when we give figures, there is always a room to meander. There is always a room for us to do some adjustment here and there.
“One of the reasons that we went on industrial action the last time was because when it got to N60,000, they told us that a kobo could not even join the N60,000. That they could not even add one naira to it.
The TUC President, therefore, stated that if President Tinubu sends a figure that is not favourable to labour to the National Assembly, labour will still approach the lawmakers and push them to do much more.
Osifo vowed that the work of the labour leaders will not end until the Minimum Wage Act 2024 becomes law.
He, therefore, stated that it is premature to predict what labour will do if what is passed is not acceptable to them.
Recall that the FG and the OPS, had on Friday, May 31 reached an agreement to pay N62,000. That is an increase of N2,000 on the N60,000 which labour rejected two weeks ago.
Recall that on Wednesday, President Tinubu said he has forward the agreed minimum wage to the National Assembly. He stated this in his speech during the Democracy Day celebration at the Eagles Square, Abuja.
Responding to the President’s statement, Osifo said, labour was not disposed to pre-empting the President on his decision. He, however, added that the unions were keen on ensuring that Tinubu tilts toward the figure presented by labour. This is as against the N62,000 by the Government and OPS.
The TUC leader stated what will happen if President decide on a figure labour finds unfavourable. He said labour will take its struggle to the lawmakers. There, he said, they would try to convince them for an increase.
Osifo, therefore, said it was premature to predict labour’s reaction if the action of the executive and the legislature turns out to be unfavourable.
On their part, the National President of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Aminu Muazu-Maifata, expressed worries on the new wage.
Speaking on Thursday, Muazu-Maifata said the LGs will not be able to pay the N60, 000.
Muazu-Maifata stated that some Local Governments have not even been paying their workers the ₦30,000. The amount was approved as minimum wage in 2019 during former President Muhammadu Buhari.
source: The Nation
Follow us for more news on our WhatsApp News Channels @
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaC505jB4hdZ5Yx9g82U
