Renegotiate Minimum Wage, Labour Party Tells Workers’ Unions

The Labour Party in Nigeria has called on workers’ unions to re-negotiate with the government on a new minimum wage instead of embarking on industrial action. This appeal was made by the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday.

Ifoh emphasized that striking is not a viable solution, as it would only exacerbate the existing hardships faced by Nigerians. He stated, “Our immediate reaction is that organised labour should not throw Nigerians into more hardship. Nigerians are already grappling with a lot of challenges and we do not need to exacerbate the situation. I think the demand for N494,000 minimum wage is unrealistic. It is really unrealistic.”

He highlighted that the proposed N494,000 minimum wage is unsustainable for the country’s economy, suggesting that it would require the government to allocate an excessive amount of resources to civil servant salaries.

Instead, Ifoh urged the labour unions to continue negotiations with the Federal Government to reach a mutually acceptable figure. “Negotiation should continue until they get something better. Asking Nigerian workers to stay at home will affect everything, including the cost of living, and Nigerians cannot afford that now,” he added.

Ifoh noted that negotiation is an ongoing process and that the unions should work with the current government offer of N60,000 minimum wage while continuing to seek improvements. He acknowledged the government’s current struggles and the need for patience and ongoing dialogue.

The Labour Party’s stance is against any action that could further increase the suffering of Nigerians. Ifoh’s comments come in response to the nationwide strike declared by organised labour over their demand for a new minimum wage.

Despite earlier appeals by the Federal Government, the organised labour began an indefinite strike on Monday to push for a new national minimum wage for workers. This industrial action follows a series of unsuccessful negotiations involving the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), and government representatives.

On May 28, labour representatives walked out of the Tripartite Committee meeting on minimum wage after the government raised its offer from N57,000 to N60,000. The government and the Organised Private Sector had initially proposed figures of ₦48,000, ₦54,000, and ₦57,000, all of which were rejected by labour. The organised labour had initially proposed ₦615,000 as a new minimum wage, later reducing it to ₦497,000 and then ₦494,000 to reflect the rising cost of living.

The Labour Party urges all parties involved to engage in constructive dialogue to find a sustainable solution that balances the needs of workers with the economic realities of the country.