The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) are poised for an urgent gathering aimed at devising a firm stance concerning the halted wage award payment to civil servants. Anticipating this meeting, both labour bodies issued a stern warning to federal and state governments, demanding full preparedness for the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage with zero tolerance for excuses.
Additionally, the organized labour cautioned state governors, asserting that once the minimum wage becomes law in the upcoming year, they will be left with no alternative but to comply with its provisions. Shedding light on the fiscal aspect, the Federal Government has allocated a staggering N1 trillion in the 2024 appropriation budget to accommodate minimum wage adjustments, promotion arrears, and severance benefits for civil servants across its Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, as revealed by the Budget Office of the Federation’s analysis.
However, despite the nationwide surge in living costs, many state governments have notably remained silent on the matter of the new minimum wage for their workforce.
Tommy Etim, Deputy President of the TUC, hinted at the possibility of resorting to prolonged industrial action during the next national executive council meeting. Addressing the looming deadlock, Etim emphasized the perilous implications of halting wage awards, hinting at potential industrial unrest. He underscored the government’s non-engagement on the payment suspension, stating that should there be no resolution by the end of December, an industrial action would likely be decided upon in the next NEC meeting.
Regarding the integration of adjustments for the new minimum wage into state budgets, Benson Upah, NLC’s Head of Information, stressed that once the law is enacted, compliance is mandatory for the states. He noted the option of supplementary appropriation available to states for funding adjustments, underscoring their obligation to adhere to the impending law’s directives.
