Wage Negotiation: NECA Urges Labour to Return to the Table

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has called on organized labor to resume negotiations on the planned minimum wage review.

This appeal follows the decision of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) to withdraw from the National Minimum Wage Committee. The withdrawal occurred after representatives from the government and the private sector proposed wage increases of N48,000 and N54,000, respectively. In contrast, the labor unions had proposed a minimum wage of N615,000 for federal workers, supporting their demand with evidence and data.

Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, Director-General of NECA, described labor’s pullout as unfortunate in a statement issued on Wednesday in Lagos. He urged the unions to reconsider their stance and return to the negotiation table for the benefit of their members and the nation’s development.

“As seen globally, a major feature of all negotiations is for all parties to present their opening positions, which was done by all social partners. The expected follow-up action is the actual negotiation with attendant counter-negotiations, alignment, and realignment of positions among others. The action of labor to walk out, even when negotiation has not started, even when it is within its right to do so, has the potential to delay the assignment of the minimum wage committee,” Oyerinde said.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the organized private sector to reviewing the current national minimum wage to a fair and sustainable new rate, taking into account the country’s current economic situation.