Ahead of the
expiration of the ultimatum issued by labour unions over the minimum wage
implementation, the unions have asked their branches across the country to get
set for an industrial action.
Labour leaders had
issued a communiqué, warning that economic activities would be shut on October
16 if the federal government failed to reconvene a meeting of the committee on
consequential adjustments of workers salaries based on the new minimum wage.
The unions, led by the
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), also insisted that the government should hold a
final meeting on October 15 to resolve the disagreements.
The federal government
and the unions have met on different occasions to deliberate and resolve the
minimum wage controversy.
The latest meeting was
held 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 a 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.
The major issue
delaying the full implementation of the minimum wage is the percentage salary
increase for certain categories of workers.
Labour is demanding 29
per cent salary increase for officers on salary level 07 to 14 and 24 per cent
adjustment for officers on salary grade level 15 to 17 .
But the federal
government had presented a proposal of 11 per cent salary increase for officers
on grade level 07 to14 and 6.5 per cent adjustment for workers of grade level
15 to 17.
There is no
disagreement over the minimum wage to federal workers on grade 1-6 as that is
already being implemented
Also, the
Director-General of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA),
Timothy Olawale, on Thursday said if labour unions and government fail to reach
an agreement over the new minimum wage, the best option for labour unions is to
approach the National Industrial Court instead of embarking on a strike.