THE Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has described the decision of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) to pull out of the minimum wage review negotiation with the Federal Government as unfortunate, urging the organised labour to return to the negotiation table.

   Recall that the NLC and TUC had at a joint news conference on Wednesday, May 15, in Abuja, announced their pulled out from the ongoing tripartite committee on the new national minimum wage negotiations meeting for workers, saying government’s proposal of N48,000 as new minimum wage for workers was not just a “mockery, but an insult to Nigerians’ dignity.”

The umbrella unions had proposed N615,000 as the new national minimum wage.

    NECA, on its part, had announced that the least worker in the private sector should be paid N78,000, but later reviewed it downward to N54,000.

NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and TUC Deputy President, Tommy Etim-Okon, in a joint statement, entitled, ‘Minimum Wage: Government Presents Wage Reduction,’ expressed disappointment at the turn of events.

Ajaero said Labour was disappointed at the unfortunate and the apparent unseriousness of the Federal Government to engage in reasonable negotiation with Nigerian workers, noting: “Despite earnest efforts to reach an equitable agreement, the less than reasonable action of the government and the Organised Private Sector (OPS) has led to a breakdown in negotiations.

“The government’s proposal of a paltry N48,000 as the minimum wage does not only insult the sensibilities of Nigerian workers, but also falls significantly short of meeting our needs and aspirations.”

The statement said in contrast the N54,000 OPS’ initial proposal, it was worth noting that even the least paid workers in the private sector receives N78,000 per month, as clearly stated by the OPS.

It stated that this highlight the stark disparity between the proposed minimum wage and prevailing standards, further demonstrating the unwillingness of employers and government to faithfully negotiate a fair national minimum wage for workers in Nigeria.

It added that Federal Government’s failure to provide any substantiated data to support its offer exacerbates the situation, saying this lack of transparency and good faith undermines the credibility of the negotiation process and erodes trust between the parties involved.

“As representatives of Nigerian workers, we cannot in good conscience accept a wage proposal that would result in a reduction in income for federal-level workers.

“The workers, who are already receiving N30,000, as mandated by law, augmented by Buhari’s 40 per cent peculiar allowance (N12,000) and the N35,000 wage award, totaling N77,000 only.

“Such a regressive step would undermine the economic well-being of workers and their families, and is unacceptable in a national minimum wage fixing process.

“In light of these developments, and in order to prevent the negotiation of a wage deduction, the NLC and TUC have taken the decision to walk out of the negotiation process.

“We remain committed to advocating for the rights and interests of Nigerian workers and will continue to engage in reasonable dialogue with the government if they show serious commitment to find a fair and sustainable resolution to this impasse.”

The unions, therefore, called on government to reconsider its position and come to the negotiation table with clear hands that reflects the true value of the contributions made by Nigerian workers to the country’s development.

    Meanwhile, NECA’s Director General, Mr. Adewale-Smart Oyerinde, in a statement issued on Wednesday, in Lagos, added: “As it is 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 Labour 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 assured that the OPS remained committed to the review of the current national minimum wage to a new one that would be fair and sustainable, taking into due cognisance, the country’s current economic situation.