Why there’s delay in minimum wage negotiation, by NLC

Ekiti Seeks Review Of Revenue Sharing Formula

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has blamed delay in negotiation for a new minimum wage, eight years after the last one, on absence of a legal framework that guarantees automatic trigger of another round of negotiation.
 
The secretary, organising planning committee of the 2018 May Day, Uche Ekwe, said there was no legal backing to support labour’s demand for a five-year review.Ekwe, who also heads the international department of the NLC, said though government agreed in principle to negotiate a new wage every year, it was difficult for labour to activate an automatic re-negotiation process in 2015, and it has been in the struggle for another round for three years.
 
The FCT chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Amodu Olayinka, who is co-chair of the 2018 May Day, while assuring workers of their safety, said security arrangements are in top gear to forestall any threats. He lauded the Federal Government for paying workers’ salaries and allowances before month end.

Meanwhile, Ekiti State government has called for a review of the current revenue allocation formula in favour of states and local governments, to enable them cope with the consequence of an increase in the minimum wage.

Speaking in Ibadan at the presentation of a memorandum on the proposed
new minimum wage to the tripartite committee on national minimum wage, 
the state governor, Ayodele Fayose, said the clamour for an increase can’t be ignored, especially as increase
in the prices of goods and services have worsened the standards of living.Fayose, who was represented by the Head of Service, Dr. Olugbenga Faseluka, said the current revenue allocation formula can no longer support the needs of lower tiers of government.