The Organised Labour has proposed a Living Wage of $300 for Nigerian workers, following the inauguration of a 37-man Tripartite Committee to fashion out a new National Minimum Wage for the country.
Chairman,Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council(JNPSNC), Trade Union Side, Comrade Benjamin Anthony, stated this at the 2023 Separate and Joint Meetings of the National Public Service Negotiating Council taking place in Goshen Guest House, Goshen City, Auta – Balefi, Nasarawa State.
Anthony, represented by the Secretary General of JNPSNC, Comrade Boma Mohammed, said the Labour Unions were proposing $300 as the New Minimum Wage for workers across the country in view of the high exchange rate coupled with the abrupt removal of fuel subsidy which has translated into high cost of living in the country.
It would be recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu represented by Vice President, Kashim Shettima, had on Tuesday inuagurated a 37-man Tripartite Committee to fashion out a new National Minimum Wage for the country.
The Committee, which is chaired by former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, has its membership drawn from Federal Government, State Government, Private Sector and the Organised Labour.
Anthony further decried the late payment of workers salaries in recent times by the Federal Government, warning that government should “do everything humanly possible to stop the trend and avert the repeat of such as the suffering in the land is already unbearable.”
He said: “As earlier stated, the time to review our Minimum Wage has come, in doing this; we must all agree that the current Minimum Wage of #30,000 has since been eroded by high exchange rate coupled with the abrupt removal of fuel subsidy which has translated into high cost of living in the country.
“In the light of the above, Labour has proposed a living Wage of $300 for Nigerian Workers.
“This is due to the fall in the value of our currency, today if you carry #100,000 to the market you will come back with a leather bag of items.
“There is no gain saying that the cost of a bag of rice is far more than the so-called Minimum Wage, and to worsen the situation, Government is not prompt in the payment of the collectively and freely agreed #35,000 Wage award.
“We call on Government to immediately pay the arrears of the #35,000 wage award along with the current and expedite action on the process of getting a new living wage to bring succour to the working class people.”
He lamented that some states across the Federation have not commenced negotiation with workers unions to pay wage award, in spite of the fact that they have collected billions of Naira from the Federation Account for several months now.
In her address, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, expressed joy at the current industrial peace and harmony in the Public Service.
Yemi-Esan represented by Dr. Comfort Adeosun, Director, Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation(OHCSF), urged workers to sustain their commitment in the development of industrial harmony through collaborative efforts by contributing constructively to the issues that will make positive impact in the Public Service.
She added that her Office would continue to do its best in ensuring that the welfare of workers is given the desired attention.
According to her, “I urge you all to tow the path of dialogue in your engagements with Government, in order to achieve peace and stability towards enhanced productivity in implementing Government Policies.
“It is my sincere hope that the positive impact of this meeting and subsequent ones will serve to maintain a stable and goal-driven Public Service in the country.”
Commenting on the theme of the three-day Joint Council Meeting, which is, “Digitalisation as an Effective and Efficient Tool for Service Delivery in the Public Service,” she said it was aimed at improving performance in the workplace through effective and efficient service delivery in the Public Service.
According to her, the theme “Digitalisation as an effective and efficient tool for Service delivery in the Public Service” is expedient as it highlights the importance of review of operation and working systems in the public service for enhanced performance and result oriented practices, which will promote efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery to the public.
In his remarks, Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, urged workers to embrace digitalisation for enhanced service delivery to the citizenry.
Sule represented by Head of the Civil Service, Nasarawa State, Mrs. Abigail Waya, said the State Government has deployed digitalisation in some of its operations, which has boosted the Internally Generated Revenue of the State as well as attracted both foreign and domestic investors to the State.
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