By Nudoiba Ojen
The organized labour has taken further steps on the new minimum wage scheduled to commence in April 2024.
This was as the organised labour, following Federal Government’s request, has submitted a list of its representatives billed to represent Nigerian workers on the negotiation panel to be constituted by the Federal Government.
Labour has said that it will stop at nothing in ensuring effective negotiation with government in the new minimum wage.
For a new minimum wage to be implemented, a tripartite committee, comprising the Federal Government team, the organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, alongside officials of government and the private sector is often set up by the Federal Government to ensure smooth negotiations.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu administration in the 2024 budget proposed the sum of N1tn to cater for minimum wage adjustment and other expenses.
Though the amount would later be streamlined, government officials insisted that the minimum wage would align with the current standard of living in the country.
NLC Head of Information, Benson Upah, said though the union was not aware of the constitution of a new minimum wage panel, the government asked that the organised labour send a list of its representatives.
“The Federal Government reached out to us to send in our nominees or names of those who would represent us on the committee late last year and we did comply promptly. However, I am not aware the committee has been constituted,” Upah said.
Similarly, TUC Vice President, Tommy Etim, said the unions were worried over the late constitution of the panel. He, however, assured Nigerians that “no stone would be left unturned to effectively negotiate with the government on the National Minimum Wage.”
