The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, and that of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Festus Osifo, on Thursday explained why that Organised Labour accepted the N70,000 minimum wage President Bola Tinubu approved for Nigerian workers.
Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information, had told journalists at the Presidential Villa, Abuja that the President announced the offer at a meeting with the Labour leaders.
NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, flanked by Comrade Festus Usifo, TUC President and other representatives of Nigerian workers who attended the meeting, said the unions agreed to the offer because of other incentives attached.
He noted that another reason for accepting the offer is because the President promised a review every three years as against what obtained in the past.
Initially, Organised Labour had demanded N615,000 as the new wage. But following prolonged discussion with the tripartite committee set up by the federal government and strike, the Labour leaders moved from N615,000 to N250,000 before finally settling for N70,000.
The tripartite committee had submitted its recommendation of N250,000 by Labour and N62,000 by the government side to President Tinubu, who had promised to make wilder consultation before sending a bill to that effect to the National Assembly.
Last week, the labour leaders met with President Tinubu but we’re unable to come to a compromise, before the meeting was reschedule for Thursday. On their part, the Federal Government had initially proposed 48,000 before moving to N70,000 with the labour leaders.
Also addressing journalists after the meeting with President Tinubu, Ajaero said: “What have been announced in terms of the amount of N70,000 happened to be where we are now. But the thing about it is that we will not wait for another five years to come on review. Rather than settling on a figure that we wait for five years, is like we’ll have to now negotiate even two times within five years, with a view to going up.
“That is one of the reasons we decided to reach where we are today. Because of the proviso that you know, you can review the next three years. The other one, we came with other issues in the basket, like the issue of SSANU, NASU and others, especially with the affront by the Commissioner of Police FCT, we brought it to Mr. President, for that matter to be addressed. And magnanimously he asked the agencies concerned to work out the modalities for the payment of those workers in the universities.”
He also said government promised other incentives which will lessen the burden that the Nigerian workers are passing through, “but you can see that we are taking in this well with mix filling because of the situation of the economy. But we have to move ahead despite the situation, and the negotiation can’t linger, you know, coming from N62,000 to N70,000. And then with the proviso that we are coming back soon to negotiate it.”
Ajearo also said, “We’re taking it back to our constituency to see how we can get a buy in,” adding that normally their Constituency always agrees with them.”
Speaking during the meeting, President Tinubu said he had to intervene in the negotiations, knowing the economic challenges faced by many Nigerians, and the need to provide urgent succour.
“I have heard all your presentations. You came here with the intention to get something on behalf of your members. It has been tough globally. And if you review my track record, I have never been found wanting in ameliorating the problems of workers. I belong to the people and to all of you in leadership. Without you, this job is not interesting.
“You challenged the thinking faculty of leadership, and we have reviewed the position. I have consulted widely, and when the tripartite committee submitted their reports, I reviewed them again and started to think and rethink.
“Last week, I brought the workload to you because we have a timeline. We have a problem, and we recognize that you have a problem too. We are in the same economy. We are in the same country. We may have different rooms, different addresses, and different houses; we are just members of one family that must care for each other.
“We must look at the parameters of things. Here, I have a speed limit, and I must pay attention to traffic warnings; slippery when wet, curved roads, and be careful not to have an accident. That is why I went as far as having this meeting today.
“We are driving this economy together. Let us look at the tenure of review. Let us agree on that, and affirm three years. Two years is too short. We affirm three years. We will review.
“I am going to move from the tripartite committee. I am going to edge a little bit forward, looking at the review that we have done. Yes, no one in the federal establishment should earn less than N70,000. So, we are going to benchmark at N70,000,’’ the President said.
President Tinubu explained that renewing the hope of Nigerians extends to providing infrastructure that will improve their livelihoods and create an inclusive economy that all can participate and benefit.
The President said the government was committed to reducing the cost of transportation with the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas-powered buses, which will be cheaper and efficient, and also assured the labour unions of providing buses that will be deployed across the country.
President Tinubu also said the entitlements of members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU) will be considered, urging the Ministries of Finance, and Budget & Economic Planning to look at the possibilities of clearing the backlog.
At the meeting, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, thanked the President for his consideration of issues as the “Father of the Nation’’ and scheduling two meetings to resolve the initial impasse.
“Mr. President, at the tripartite meeting, and the resolutions of the government, Organized Private Sector and labour unions; we were all united as one family to promote and grow our economy, and deepen our democracy, by implication to the benefit of all. Basically, that is what we are saying today. We have a listening President here,’’ the Secretary to the Government of the Federation said.