The Organised Labour is preparing to hold an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting concerning the suspension of the payment of the wage award to civil servants and the increment of the minimum wage. It has been reported that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will sign the new minimum wage bill into law next year, and the current N30,000 minimum wage will expire at the end of March 2024 according to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed. In the 2024 budget, the Federal Government has allocated N1tn for minimum wage adjustments, promotion arrears, and severance benefits for civil servants in its Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
In an interview with The Punch, the Deputy President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Tommy Etim, spoke up about the stoppage of the payment of the wage award. Etim believes that the stoppage of the wage award is wrong and a recipe for industrial action. He also stated that the government has refused to call for a meeting with the labour leaders to explain the reason for the stoppage of the wage award. The TUC official asserted that the labour movement might resolve to embark on a prolonged industrial action during its next NEC meeting.
He goes on to say that the negotiation for a new minimum wage will be based on socio-economic realities. The housing, transportation, and all these components will form the basis of their discussion and negotiation. So, it won’t be based on a round-figure basis. The current prices of items will determine the current minimum wage.