*Wants FG To Honour Agreement With JOHESU
THE Trade Union Congress (TUC) has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed N70, 000 wage award to its workers.
TUC demanded an immediate and sustainable salary increase for workers, rather than what it described as temporary relief measures that had failed to reach all eligible employees.
The senior staff umbrella union, in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its President, Festus Osifo, and Secretary General, N.A. Toro, also demanded the immediate implementation of the outstanding Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) adjustment for members of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), accusing the Federal Government of reneging on an agreement that led to the suspension of the unions’ prolonged industrial action.
It urged government to increase workers’ salaries without waiting for negotiations on a new national minimum wage, saying there was no legally prescribed maximum wage, meaning government could increase salaries above the existing minimum wage without waiting for another round of negotiations.
TUC proposed that the salary of the lowest-paid federal worker could be raised to N300, 000, with corresponding adjustments across other salary grades, saying the decision by some states to raise their minimum wages above N100, 000 demonstrated that a more substantial salary increase was achievable.
It stressed that negotiations for a new national minimum wage should not be used as an excuse to delay urgent salary adjustments amid the worsening cost-of-living crisis, adding: “Our position was very clear: Federal Government should review and increase salaries of workers.”
TUC explained that its opposition to the proposed N70, 000 wage award was informed by its experience with the previous N40, 000 wage award agreed by the Federal Government and organised labour on October 2, 2023, which was expected to remain in effect until a new national minimum wage was negotiated in 2024, but was not fully implemented.
The union alleged that some workers were left with outstanding payments, and others received nothing, while some beneficiaries were paid irregularly, sometimes at intervals of one or two months and only after repeated demands.
It also claimed that over 80 per cent of states and workers in the informal sector did not benefit from any form of wage award, questioning the rationale for another temporary intervention.
TUC noted that workers could not be expected to trust fresh promises while previous obligations remained outstanding, adding: “How do we go back to the same wage award that never benefited all workers? How can workers be expected to trust fresh promises when previous obligations remain outstanding?”
It argued that a direct salary increase would provide more reliable and sustainable relief than temporary payments whose implementation could be inconsistent, noting: “Salary is the only consistent and far-reaching pay that workers could rely upon.”
TUC cautioned that the economic sacrifices of Nigerian workers should not be undermined by an ill-conceived temporary measure, urging the federal, state and local governments to introduce measurable interventions to reduce the cost of essential goods and services, noting that the current economic hardship was affecting not only federal workers, but also state and local government employees, pensioners, private-sector workers and those in the informal economy.
It identified rising food, transportation and healthcare costs as major pressures on Nigerians, imploring governments at all levels to ensure the timely payment of salaries and pensions, protect existing jobs, curb exploitative labour practices and revitalise the productive sector to create decent employment.
TUC further demanded that all interventions be inclusive, adequately funded and backed by clear implementation timelines, saying governments must move beyond policy announcements and demonstrate tangible improvements in the living conditions of Nigerians.
On the lingering dispute involving JOHESU, TUC accused the Federal Government of failing to implement the agreement reached with the health workers after months of industrial action, recalling that Osifo led the organised labour delegation, alongside JOHESU leaders and a representative of its sister congress, during negotiations to resolve the dispute.
The statement said the final conciliatory meeting was held at the office of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, with the Federal Government delegation also including the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, and the then minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, after which a communiqué containing commitments by both sides was issued and JOHESU suspended its industrial action in good faith.
It recalled that the agreement provided for the conclusive resolution of outstanding issues relating to the CONHESS adjustment without further delay, but lamented that the adjustment had remained unimplemented seven months after the agreement, saying: “This continued failure to honour an explicit commitment violates the principle of good faith, undermines confidence in collective bargaining and is absolutely unacceptable to the TUC.”
TUC demanded the immediate implementation of the CONHESS adjustment, publication of a clear implementation timetable, provision of the required budgetary allocations and resolution of outstanding issues in consultation with the affected unions, warning that health workers should not be expected to continue providing essential services, while government commitments to them remained unfulfilled.
It demanded “tangible action, not further assurances,” pledging to support the affected unions and pursue all lawful measures necessary to secure compliance.
The union said its demands were aimed at securing economic justice and protecting workers’ livelihoods, rather than seeking favours from the government, insisting that adequate wages, social protection and measures to reduce the cost of living were essential to preserving workers’ dignity.
“Workers’ welfare is not a privilege. Agreements must be honoured. Workers’ rights must be respected. Government must comply,” it stated, while awaiting the outcome of its scheduled meeting with the Federal Government before deciding on its next line of action.
