Cracks In Labour Bane Of Minimum Wage Review, Says Wabba

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress  Ayuba Wabba has blamed the delay in securing an upward review of the national minimum wage on the disunity in the organised labour.

Wabba was speaking on the prospects of getting a review of the existing N18,000 minimum wage for workers.

The present wage was signed into law by former President Goodluck Jonathan in March 2011.

“It is time to review the N18,000 minimum wage. If we had been united, this issue would have been resolved,’’ the NLC president said.

Waba recalled that since 2015 that organised labour submitted a formal demand for the review, no technical committee had been set up for it.

Current wage not sustainable

“For the minimum wage to be reviewed, it has to be tripartite. The employers’ organisation will be present, government’s representatives and the organised labour,’’ he said.

The NLC president stressed that the current wage could no longer sustain workers as the five-year cycle for review of workers income was due and the value of money had also depreciated.

Workers should press for it

He assured that there was hope of getting an increment in the wage but added that workers must be ready to fight for their right.

“Everything that we have got as workers over the decades is through collective struggle. Government did not offer it on a platter of gold.

“These are the issues that have caused delay in resuming negotiation on review of new minimum wage for workers,’’ he said.

Time for strategy

Wabba said the Federal Government and labour could look at ways of implementing a new strategy for the new wage with the economic recession not hindering the discussions.

“Labour is committed to driving the process of an increment in minimum wage for workers and we assure you that we will defend your interest.

“On the issue of recession, the NLC will soon arrive with an alternative to enable the government solve its economic problem,’’ the NLC president said.