From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Organised Labour has rejected N54,000 offered by the Federal Government as the new minimum wage for workers in the country.
The Federal Government had offered the amount against the N615,000 being demanded by Labour as living wage, at the New Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee meeting held on Tuesday in Abuja.
Speaking to DailySun via a phone chat, the Spokesperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Benson Upah said the Union remains steadfast in securing a living wage for workers, while indicating ongoing discussions with the government on the matter.
According to Upah, “We are still holding talks. Government has not made any serious commitment. They moved the offer up today to 54,000.
Asked if labour was considering the offer, he said:”No. of course not. Our meeting continues tomorrow. We have not brought down our figure. Unless there is a place you can show me that I can get accommodation for N40,000 or there is anywhere that I can got and eat food for N500. Even if it is a cup of tea. Because Milo now costs N250 per sachet. Milk is more than N250.
“That is the problem. People are saying that our demand is unrealistic but they are not putting into consideration what is happening in the country.”
First Deputy President of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Tommy Okon, also told DailySun via a phone chat that the Union will not be accepting the federal government’s offer.
Labour recently walked out of a meeting with the Federal Government after they proposed N48,000 as the new minimum wage, while the organised private sector (OPS) suggested N54,000.
Labour criticised the government for what they perceived as insincerity, describing the offer as an insult to Nigerian workers.