Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has advised federal and state governments to stick to the agreement signed on the consequential adjustment of salaries of workers in the public sector.
This comes as the organised private sector also cautioned against hike in electricity tariffs, fuel price and increase in taxes, saying any of these would amount to collecting back what is being given to workers through the salary increment.
The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), comprising government and labour representatives, in the early hours of Friday, October 18, finally reached an agreement on the controversial consequential adjustments of salaries of workers after a series of meetings in Abuja, punctuated by threats of national strike by labour.
In the agreement signed, workers on grade level 07 will earn 23.2 percent; grade level 08, 20 percent; grade level 09, to earn 19 percent; grade level 10-14, 16 percent while grade level 15 -17 will receive salary increase of 14 percent.
Timothy Olawale, the director general of NECA, in a statement on Friday, praised both parties for resolving the impasse without another avoidable strike, which could have further stifled the economy.
He urged the government to abide by the contents of the agreement, especially given the fact that the new National Minimum Wage had been signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari since April 24, 2019.
He also called on organised labour to roll up their sleeves for improved productivity, as the nation needed all hands to be on deck to exit the present economic challenges.
“The time is ripe to ensure and align reward system with productivity in the workplace, and this should be applicable in both the private and public sectors in the country,” said Olawale.
On its part, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), described the agreement as “victory for all.”
Ayuba Wabba, president of the NLC, said: “We want to thank Nigerian workers and our affiliate unions for their support, solidarity and unity of purpose throughout the difficult negotiations. It is heartwarming that the process was eventually rewarding.
We must say that, as always, we disappointed the antics of those whose interest lies elsewhere than the common goal of protecting and advancing the interest of ordinary Nigerian workers.
He said that the hard-won salary adjustment will benefit all categories of workers including those in the military and para-military services.
“Apart from workers, the recent salary increase will also benefit ordinary citizens especially those in the informal sector as the increase in the available disposable income of workers will translate into a stronger purchasing power for our people,” said the NLC.
Labour, however, urged the government to resist the temptation to hike the prices of utility services so as not to erode the gains of the salary increment.
“Any further increase in the prices of petroleum products, electricity tariff and personal income taxes would amount to collecting with the left hand what is given to workers with the right hand,” it said.
While commending state governments that have already commenced implementation of the new national minimum wage, the NLC urged that the implementation should be a product of collective bargaining process in line with ILO Convention 98 on organising and collective bargaining.
It also called on all employers of labour in the 36 states and Abuja as well as the Organised Private Sector (OPS) to complete the implementation process of the new national minimum wage and consequential wage adjustment forthwith.
“State councils of the NLC are hereby directed to offer leadership and work harmoniously with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and JNPSNC and all unions to ensure effective implementation of the new national minimum wage and the consequential salary adjustment that must be reached through a process of collective bargaining,” the NLC said.
JOSHUA BASSEY
