LABOURERS STATE CASE FOR NEW MINIMUM WAGE
Laborers state case for new wage
Erdoo Due
The issue of labour in Nigeria and the new minimum wage lingers on as many states are yet to implement the agreed N30, 000. In Benue, the state government recently inaugurated a committee on Consequential Adjustment. Comrade Godwin Anya who is the Chairman, Nigerian Labour Congress Benue State chapter said: “Minimum wage is a policy initiated by the NLC to help improve the lives and welfare of citizens; by increasing the amount of wages paid particularly to workers/salary earners in Nigeria both serving and retired. The wage policy is expected to be reviewed after 5 years. However, due to reluctance on the part of the Government it has become a thing of deliberation.”
On the new N30, 000 minimum wages he said: “The minimum wage Enactment Act 2019 has been signed into law and its implementation has commenced. However, implementation is a continuous process depending on the various states as each state has its own peculiarities. Each employee under this Act is expected to take at least N30, 000. It is supposed to be fully implemented for all those who earn less than the new wage basically from grade level 1-6, while the increment in salary of other grade levels is subject to negotiation. Currently, the Federal Government and some states including Kebbi, Kaduna, Lagos and Adamawa have commenced payment of the new wage.”
On the state of things in Benue he said “Benue State government has started negotiation with the recently inaugurated committee. The Joint negotiation Council is headed by Comrade Ojotu Ojeme and Co – chaired by the Secretary to the Benue State Government Prof. Anthony Ijohor which is made up of Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigerian Labour Congress. While as at time of gathering this report the Senior Staff Association of Tertiary Institutions Benue State (SSATIBS) made up Akawe Torkula College of Advance and Professional Studies, (ATCAPS), College of Education, (COE) Oju , COE Katsina Ala and Akperan Orshi College of Agriculture , Yandev of the were be included in the Committee though THE TRANSMITTER learnt that a protest letter to the NLC chairman has been lodged Luper Dzayem the chairman of SSATIBS confirmed this in a chat with our Reporter.
Esther Zever an Assistant Director with the Benue State Civil Service said:”I am not sure about the new wage because of the state of things in Benue. The workers need to give government more time and be patient. The government is trying, but there are still backlog from the previous N18, 000 minimum wages which need to be cleared, particularly August to December salaries of 2017.”
However, an economic expert Tyona Terkimbir holds a contrary opinion. He feels wage increment do not necessary translate to fortune. “It is high time workers considered investment alternatives to augment their monthly earnings. The government on its parts must provide the enabling environment for these alternatives. One way is to provide a framework that regulates the prices of goods and services. If these fundamentals are not in place, the wage increment will amount to nothing.”
So far, seven states in Nigeria and the Federal Government have commenced payment of the new wage. Some states like Osun and Benue have just begun the process of implementation. To some, there are no yet steps at negotiating the new policy. However, the December 31st 2019 deadline has been shifted to January 31st 2020. Meanwhile, many states in the process of negotiation strive on indefinite timelines. For the private sector, nothing has been said yet. In any case, let us hope that employers of labour settle this matter amicably to avoid tells of Aluta Continua and Solidarity Forever chants.
