ILO conference may stall minimum wage talks as leaders jet out of country
• Labour to summon organs’ meeting at expiration of ultimatum
• Committee concludes negotiation, signs agreement
• Mbaka: Govs, senators, reps should also receive N62,000 monthly
• HEDA urges FG to prioritise workers’ welfare, slams govs for rejecting proposed wage
The ongoing International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland, could stall ongoing minimum wage negotiations. This is because the majority of labour leaders and representatives at the tripartite committee handling the negotiations have jetted out of the country for the conference.
Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, is expected to lead the Federal Government’s delegation to the conference, which began on June 3, and is expected to end this week, Friday, June 14.
The 112th session of the ILC, organised yearly by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), brings together governments, employers and workers’ organisations from its 187 member states (Nigeria inclusive) to address the world of work challenges, set and monitor international labour standards, and deliberate with development cooperation partners on projects and programmes to help realise decent work agenda.
The Guardian reports that already, the Federal Government and the Organised Private Sector (OPS) have increased their offer to N62,000, while organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), reduced their initial demand of N494,000 to N250,000 as of Friday, last week.
Following the disagreement that ensued at the last negotiation, the committee adjourned its meeting. In an interview, NLC’s Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, said the outcome of the meetings of the two labour groups, this week, would determine their next line of action.
He noted the significance of the negotiation coming up during the Geneva conference, with several labour leaders, including heads of the NLC and TUC, Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo, jetting out of the country.
According to him, this could stall whatever action labour might want to take “but it may not also stop it because even from Geneva, they can give instructions.”
However, another top labour leader, who did not want to be named, said the organs of the two labour centres would summon a meeting at the expiration of the one-week negotiation meeting on Wednesday.
He said the ILC would not stall negotiations because those who traveled could join virtually. He noted: “The reality is the demonstration of the level of disdain and contempt with which the Nigerian government holds the workers and the people. They don’t have any regard or respect for the people they lead, who are supposed to be at the heart of their governance effort. If they did, they wouldn’t have made the insulting offer of N2,000 to the existing N60,000.
A minimum wage is supposed to help a worker eke out a living.”
Faulting the government for negotiating as if they are not dealing with humans, he insisted: “We do not have any intention to accept N62,000 nor will we accept anything that will not allow Nigerian workers to have a decent living. The organs of the congresses will meet to make decisions. Workers are the ones who create wealth; we will not allow our leaders in the corridors of power to make a mess of our lives.”
He added: “Any governor that refuses to pay a decent wage should resign. Are they not the ones paying school fees in advance for their children and saying there was no money? We have many of them. Ninety per cent of governors are looting their treasury.”
Recall that members of the organised labour had, on Tuesday, suspended their strike for five days. The strike which commenced last week, Monday, was called to protest the failure of the Federal Government to approve a new minimum wage, latest May 31, and reverse the hike in electricity tariff.
Also recall that after a six-hour meeting with the leadership of organised labour in Abuja last Monday, the Federal Government expressed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to raising the N60,000 offered as minimum wage.
The agreement stated: “The President is committed to establishing a National Minimum Wage higher than N60,000; and the Tripartite Committee will convene daily for the next week to finalise an agreeable National Minimum Wage.”
The organised labour also agreed to “immediately hold meetings of its organs to consider this new offer, and that no worker would face victimisation as a consequence of participating in the industrial action.”
MEANWHILE, the tripartite committee angling for a new national minimum wage has concluded its negotiation and the agreement has been signed by the parties for onward transmission to President Bola Tinubu.
The Guardian learnt that a draft of the report was prepared by the technical committee and was signed by the members on Saturday, even though the agreement did not sit well with organised labour. A member of the committee told The Guardian, yesterday, that the agreement was signed on Saturday.
“The report is not compulsory (sic) that an agreement has been reached. Members have signed the outcome of the meeting. The technical committee has presented a draft of the report, and members came to sign for onward presentation to Mr President to know the positions of the parties,” the member said.
THIS came as charismatic Catholic priest, Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka, said the proposed N62,000 national minimum wage should be made applicable to senators, governors, and members of the House of Representatives.
Mbaka, who urged the Federal Government to handle the wage issue cautiously to avoid a crisis, told reporters yesterday: “If we decide to give labour N60,000 or N62,000, why not generalise it to the House of Assembly members, senators, House of Representatives members, and governors?
“They are all civil servants. Or are the others (workers) slaves? I can’t understand why they are amassing billions for sitting allowance, wardrobe allowance, newspaper allowance, and suffering allowance.
“The people that should have such allowances are those suffering in the villages. How much are our teachers, nurses, and doctors being paid? Let’s be realistic. Our civil servants that wake early and return late daily, how much are they being paid?
“Looking at the level of inflation in the country, you will see that we all are not sincere in this country.”Mbaka therefore pleaded with the government to intervene urgently, warning: “This situation must be handled with care because it could be hijacked and nobody knows the ripple effect.”
ALSO, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) urged the Federal Government to prioritise the welfare of workers in the ongoing negotiations.
It lamented that current economic realities make the proposed N62,000 by the Federal Government grossly inadequate for meeting the basic needs of workers and their families.
HEDA, through its chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, also condemned the claim by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum that states cannot afford a N60,000 minimum wage.
“It’s hypocritical for governors accused of looting billions of naira from the states, and considering the increased federal allocation received in recent months, to claim they can’t afford a living wage for workers,” Suraju said.
He added: “The tripartite committee must consider the long-term implications of its negotiations on Nigeria’s future. The current economic realities and the rising cost of living demand a more comprehensive approach to minimum wage negotiations.
“Furthermore, the history of corruption and embezzlement among governors and other public officials must be taken into account to ensure that workers are not shortchanged.”
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