FG meets labour over latest controversy on N18,000 new minimum wage

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG
THE FEDERAL Government yesterday invited leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress NLC, and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, to an emergency meeting today in what feelers described as desperate attempts to persuade labour of its commitment to honour the July 19 agreement on the N18.000 after embarrassing comments by its officials on Thursday.

Government delegation to a resume meeting of the Technical Committee set up to work out details of the implementation of the wage and payment of arrears in line with July 19, agreement, had reportedly told labour leaders that government would only pay  core civil servants from levels 01-06 as against the agreement that all workers from level 01-17 would benefit.

The government was also said to have threatened that it would not even pay levels 1-06, if labour refused to accept this new position.

The labour leaders were said to have rejected the government summersault instantly.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that the presidency was highly embarrassed and the statement clearly portrayed the government as “one that does not honour agreement” and “cannot be trusted.”

According to a highly placed presidency source, the Minister of Labour and Productivity was then asked to do all that is needed to invite labour leaders for a meeting as early possible to assuage labour and reassure labour and Nigerian workers and indeed everybody of government’s commitment to the July 19 agreement.”

Saturday Vanguard’s finding revealed that the meeting which will hold at the office of Secretary of Government of the Federation, is scheduled for 3 pm.

It will be recalled that after a stalemated meeting of government and labour leaders on Thursday, leaders of NLC and TUC at a joint briefing on government latest position, insisted the July 31, 2011 date by which Labour and Government agreed to reach an acceptable agreement on the implementation of the National Minimum Wage stood.

The press statement read by the Deputy President of NLC Comarade Kiri Mohammed, and Deputy President of TUC Comrade Musa Tolly, recalled the content of agreement with the federal government that “The Federal Government agrees to comply with the New National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2011. The Federal Government shall conclude negotiations with Labour on the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage not later than 31st July, 2011.

Detailed negotiations on the relativity implication(s) of the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage Act 2011 will be concluded not later than 31st July, 2011. In line with this Agreement, the Federal Government team led by the Head of Service and the NLC and TUC met on Monday 25th July 2011. The meeting decided to set up a Technical Committee to work out various scenarios and report back today, Thursday 28th July, 2011.”

According to leaders of NLC and TUC, “At the resumed meeting today 28th July, 2011 the Federal Government delegation refused to discuss or negotiate the three scenarios presented by the Joint Federal Government – Labour Technical Committee. Rather, the Head of Service announced that the Federal Government will only implement the Minimum Wage for Grade levels 1-6 and that non-Civil Servants will not benefit from the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage.

For good measure, the Government team threatened that unless Labour accepted this, even Grade-Levels 1-6 in the civil service will not be paid the National Minimum Wage. Of course, Labour refused to be intimidated. It is tragic that the Federal Government has unilaterally repudiated the agreement it freely entered with the Labour Movement and has chosen to violate the country’s constitution, the National Minimum Wage Act and tear the collective agreement into shreds.”

“The implication of this includes the fact that if the Federal Government decided not to be law abiding, it would have lost all moral authority to compel others including the private sector to obey the National Minimum Wage Act. Today is a sad day in the history of our beloved country because the government in power does not realize that where it tramples on the country’s constitution, violates the law and refuses to obey an agreement it entered into in writing, it is an invitation to anarchy.

It is clear that the Federal Government deceived labour and the populace into believing that it will implement the Minimum Wage and that it is a fit and proper institution to enter into written agreement. The NLC and TUC believe that people in Leadership should have integrity and be honourable; Nigerian workers have clearly demonstrated good faith in suspending the strike action, on the other hand, the Federal Government has demonstrated bad faith.”

“Despite the Federal Government’s actions, the NLC and TUC maintain that the July 31, 2011 date by which Labour and Government agree to reach an acceptable agreement on the implementation of the National Minimum Wage stands. The workers of our country have entered into an agreement with the Leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan and we shall hold the Government accountable for the implementation.

It added: “We call on all state Governments not to follow the bad example of the Federal Government; they should conclude negotiations with their workforce for the implementation of the National Minimum Wage across board as agreed with the Labour Movement. We also ask wise employers in the private sector to begin immediate salary increase negotiations with their employees and the unions.

The NLC and TUC call on the National Assembly that had played a vital role in getting the Federal Government to enter into negotiations with Labour and persuading workers to suspend the strike, to intervene by getting the Presidency to obey the agreement reached with Labour. We also call on Leaders of thought, religions leaders and other lovers of our dear country to prevail on the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan Presidency not to ignite a wild industrial fire in the country.”