The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly opposed calls by some politicians to decentralise minimum wage negotiations. Mr. Adebayo Aribatise, Secretary of the NLC in Oyo State, expressed his concerns during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Ibadan.
Aribatise argued that decentralising minimum wage negotiations would disadvantage workers in several states, as not all state governments might adhere to fair wage standards. This stance comes in response to recent suggestions from politicians advocating for state-level wage negotiations.
Dr. Kayode Fayemi, a prominent advocate for decentralised wage negotiations and a former Governor of Ekiti State, highlighted the need for states to conduct separate wage negotiations with their labour unions, independent of the federal government. Fayemi, who once chaired the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, emphasized that economic disparities among states necessitate such a decentralized approach, famously noting, “fingers are not equal.”
Fayemi further argued that centralised minimum wage negotiations primarily benefit only a small segment of the population directly involved in these discussions. Despite this, Aribatise remains steadfast in his opposition to decentralisation.
Aribatise pointed out that several states have yet to fully implement the existing ₦30,000 minimum wage, despite the NLC’s extensive efforts at both national and state levels. He expressed concerns that granting states the authority to negotiate wages independently could lead to further exploitation of workers.
“The law mandates states to adhere to the national minimum wage,” Aribatise stated. “It is imperative that the federal government continues to set this standard. Without this, some governors might exploit the situation, paying workers far below what is fair and reasonable.”
Aribatise warned that decentralising wage negotiations could result in some governors abusing their power, leading to agreements that undermine the welfare of junior workers, who might end up earning insufficient wages.
The NLC’s firm stance underscores the importance of maintaining a unified national approach to wage negotiations to ensure that all workers receive equitable and fair compensation, irrespective of their state of employment.
