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In what appears to be the last efforts to avert a looming industrial action over the N30,000 minimum wage, the Federal Government and the labour unions will today, October 15, meet once again to resolve some of the lingering issues concerning the consequential adjustment in the minimum wage.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment in a statement on Monday said the meeting of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) and labour is scheduled for 1.30pm today in the minister’s conference room.
Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment, had on Monday met separately with the Organised Labour team and the government side of the JNPSNC in an effort to resolve the trade dispute.
A statement issued on Monday by Charles Akpan, deputy director of press and public relations of the ministry, said that while the meeting with the labour team of the JNPSNC started by 12pm and ended 2.45pm, the minister sat in conciliation with the government side of the council between 3pm to 6pm.
Negotiations have broken down several times as the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) after receiving briefing from the JNPSNC issued a statement recently warning that if the issues of the consequential adjustment were not addressed by Wednesday, October 16, the labour movement would have no other alternative than to call its members nationwide to embark on a total strike.
Although grade levels 1-6 according to the government have started receiving their salary increase of N30,000 minimum wage from N18,000 since the new minimum wage was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on April 18, labour is demanding a 29 percent adjustment on the salary of grade level 7-14. It also demands for salary increase of 24 percent for grade level 15-17, while the government is offering 11 percent for the level 7-14 and 6.5 percent for level 15-17.
According to the statement, Monday’s meetings were collective bargaining negotiations, affording both parties the opportunity to share vital information, especially critical statistics to allay the fears as well as undo all encumbrances constraining the attainment of a common position.
“Deliberations were intended to smoothen the rough edges in preparation for a fruitful high level conclusive meeting scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, 15th October, 2019. Both sides were satisfied with the briefings they received from the minister and promised to get back to their constituencies for further inputs,” the statement said.
Representing the Organised Labour were the deputy chairman of the NLC, Comrade Amaechi Asugwuni; NLC general secretary, Comrade Emma Ugboaja; Musa Lawal Ozigi of the TUC, Nuhu Toro (TUC) Lawal Alade Bashir as well as Comrade Musa Abbas.
Also in attendance at the meeting with the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council were the Head of Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Labour and Employment, William Alo, director General of the Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, and acting chairman of the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta.
Others in attendance included Director from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Garba Mamman, Olufehinti O.J from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, B.O.C Omogo of the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation and Akpan, Director of Trade Union Services in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, and Minister of State for Budget and Planning, Clem Agba.
Meanwhile, Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) said on Monday they were awaiting a directive from the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) regarding the planned strike.
“I cannot say whether or not we shall join the strike. We’re awaiting a directive from our national headquarters,” Tayo Aboyeji, Southwest spokesperson of PTD, told our correspondent.
NUPENG to which the PTD belongs is an affiliate of United Labour Congress (ULC) which broke away from NLC.
JOSHUA BASSEY & INNOCENT ODOH, Abuja
