The Organized Labour has rejected N54,000 offered by the Federal Government as the new minimum wage for workers in the country.
The Federal Government had offered the amount instead of the N615,000 being demanded by Labour as minimum wage, at the New Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee meeting in Abuja yesterday.
Spokesperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Benson Upah, said the union remained steadfast in securing a living wage for workers.
“We are still holding talks. Government has not made any serious commitment. They moved the offer up today to 54,000.”
Asked if labor was considering the offer, he said: “No, of course not. Our meeting continues tomorrow (today). We have not brought down our figure. Unless there is a place you can show me that I can get accommodation for N40,000 or there is anywhere that I can get and eat food for N500. Even if it is a cup of tea, because Milo now costs N250 per sachet. Milk is more than N250
“That is the problem. People are saying that our demand is unrealistic, but they are not putting into consideration what is happening in the country.”
First Deputy President of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Tommy Okon, also told Daily Sun in a phone chat that the union would not accept the Federal Government’s offer.
Labour recently walked out of a meeting with the Federal Government after the government proposed N48,000 as the new minimum wage, while the organized private sector (OPS) suggested N54,000.
Labour criticized the government for what they perceived as insincerity, describing the offer as an insult to Nigerian workers.