The Federal Government has issued an earnest appeal to striking labour unions, saying that the government is not an opponent on this negotiating table.
The Guardian reports that organised labour had declared a nationwide strike over a proposed new minimum wage after a meeting between the tripartite committee on national minimum wage and representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its Trade Union Congress (TUC) failed to reach an agreement on a new minimum wage and the reversal of the recent hike in electricity tariffs.
The Federal Government, through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the government will continue to engage and continue to make itself “very available” in the context of these negotiations on behalf of the people.
FG, in the statement, noted its efforts to alleviate economic pressures through initiatives like the National Consumer Credit Scheme and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
It added that relief for Nigerians would come not only from increased wages but also from measures to reduce the cost of living and to ensure that more money stays in the pockets of Nigerians.
The presidency added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to a reasonable and sustainable outcome in the minimum wage negotiations, urging the labour unions to reciprocate this commitment for the nation’s welfare.
The statement read, “This is a heartfelt and deeply considered appeal to the labour unions to continue along the path of negotiations with the federal and state governments, under the auspices of the tripartite committee that has been established to fashion out a new, realistic minimum wage for the Nigerian people.
“As Government, we are desirous of a peaceful outcome, and we will do everything to make this happen. Yesterday, the leadership of the National Assembly met with the unions. Today, we have offered another invitation to the unions, to meet with us and continue our discussions.
“We will continue to engage, and continue to make ourselves very available in the context of these negotiations on behalf of the Nigerian people
“Let me make it clear that we are not opponents on this negotiating table. We are united by the fact that we want the best for the Federal Republic of Nigeria and for all 200 million citizens of the country.
“We have a responsibility to strike a measured and realistic balance, in this effort to arrive at a new minimum wage for Nigerians.
“Let us remind ourselves of the fundamental facts:
“The minimum wage is not only for public sector workers. It will be binding on the private sector as well. This reality must be factored into the negotiations.
“As I have explained earlier, Labour’s current proposal of N494,000 is an increase of 1,547 percent on the existing wage, and translates into an annual wage bill of N9.5 trillion for the Federal Government of Nigeria alone.
“This is apart from its cost implications for subnational governments and private sector employees. Such a wage bill would cripple the Nigerian economy, by leading to massive job losses especially in the private sector.
“The National Consumer Credit Scheme and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) are additional significant demonstrations of a determination to bring relief to the people of Nigeria.
“We want the labour unions to understand that the relief that Nigerians are expecting, and that they fully deserve, will not come only in the form of increased wages. It will also come as efforts to reduce the cost of living, and to ensure that more money stays in the pockets of Nigerians.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) is firmly committed to doing what is right, reasonable and sustainable regarding these minimum wage negotiations. We call on the Labour Unions to reciprocate this gesture in the interest of the nation.”
