[Nigeria] Call for minimum wage renegotiation to stop union strike action

In Nigeria, the Labour Party has called for workers’ unions to renegotiate with the government on a new minimum wage instead of taking industrial action, Punch reports.

Obiora Ifoh - National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party - made the plea in a June 3 interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos State.

Mr Ifoh reportedly said the strike was not an option, stating that it would cause more hardship and suffering.

He said, “Our immediate reaction is that organised labour should not throw Nigerians into more hardship.

“Nigerians are already grappling with a lot of challenges and we do not need to exacerbate the situation. I think the demand for N494,000 minimum wage is unrealistic. It is really unrealistic.

“It is a figure that cannot be sustained because it will imply that Nigeria will take all that money it has to pay the civil servants.”

Mr Ifoh added that the labour union should continue to negotiate with the Federal Government on a figure acceptable to both parties.

“Negotiation should continue until they get something better. Asking Nigerian workers to stay at home will affect everything, including the cost of living and Nigerians cannot afford that now.

“Negotiation is not a one-off thing. If the Federal Government is not willing to go above N60,000 minimum wage, I think that the Organised Labour should work with what is available while it continues to negotiate.

“We know this government has not gotten it right. It is still trying to test the waters,” he said.

The publicity secretary reportedly said that the party is against actions that could cause further hardship.

Mr Ifoh was reacting to a nationwide strike announced by The Organised Labour over its demand for a new minimum wage.

Despite earlier pleas by the Federal Government for consideration, on June 3 The Organised Labour began an indefinite strike to push for a new national minimum wage for workers.

The industrial action came in the wake of a series of unsuccessful negotiations involving the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria and the government’s representatives.

On May 28, labour representatives walked out of the Tripartite Committee meeting on minimum wage after the government increased its offer from N57,000 to N60,000.

The government and the Organised Private Sector had initially proposed ₦48,000, then ₦54,000 and N57,000, all were reportedly rejected by labour.

The Organised Labour had also proposed ₦615,000 as a new minimum wage, to reflect the rising cost of living, but later came down to ₦497,000 and then to ₦494,000.

Source: Punch

(Quotes via original reporting)

In Nigeria, the Labour Party has called for workers’ unions to renegotiate with the government on a new minimum wage instead of taking industrial action, Punch reports.

Obiora Ifoh - National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party - made the plea in a June 3 interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos State.

Mr Ifoh reportedly said the strike was not an option, stating that it would cause more hardship and suffering.

He said, “Our immediate reaction is that organised labour should not throw Nigerians into more hardship.

“Nigerians are already grappling with a lot of challenges and we do not need to exacerbate the situation. I think the demand for N494,000 minimum wage is unrealistic. It is really unrealistic.

“It is a figure that cannot be sustained because it will imply that Nigeria will take all that money it has to pay the civil servants.”

Mr Ifoh added that the labour union should continue to negotiate with the Federal Government on a figure acceptable to both parties.

“Negotiation should continue until they get something better. Asking Nigerian workers to stay at home will affect everything, including the cost of living and Nigerians cannot afford that now.

“Negotiation is not a one-off thing. If the Federal Government is not willing to go above N60,000 minimum wage, I think that the Organised Labour should work with what is available while it continues to negotiate.

“We know this government has not gotten it right. It is still trying to test the waters,” he said.

The publicity secretary reportedly said that the party is against actions that could cause further hardship.

Mr Ifoh was reacting to a nationwide strike announced by The Organised Labour over its demand for a new minimum wage.

Despite earlier pleas by the Federal Government for consideration, on June 3 The Organised Labour began an indefinite strike to push for a new national minimum wage for workers.

The industrial action came in the wake of a series of unsuccessful negotiations involving the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria and the government’s representatives.

On May 28, labour representatives walked out of the Tripartite Committee meeting on minimum wage after the government increased its offer from N57,000 to N60,000.

The government and the Organised Private Sector had initially proposed ₦48,000, then ₦54,000 and N57,000, all were reportedly rejected by labour.

The Organised Labour had also proposed ₦615,000 as a new minimum wage, to reflect the rising cost of living, but later came down to ₦497,000 and then to ₦494,000.

Source: Punch

(Quotes via original reporting)