Members of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has decided to walk out of ongoing negotiations after the Federal Government and the Organised Private Sector (OPS) offered a national minimum wage proposal of ₦48,000 and ₦54,000 respectively.
According to the labour bodies, the proposed figure is insignificant to the needs and aspirations of Nigerian workers. Adding that the amount portrays the unwillingness of employers and government to negotiate a fair national minimum wage for workers.
The decision to walk out was taken yesterday after the 37-man tripartite committee negotiating a new wage resumed its meeting for the fourth time, and the federal government, labour and the OPS presented their positions.
Labour had proposed a ₦615,000 minimum wage which it described as realistic considering the high cost of living faced by citizens in the country.
In a joint statement led by NLC president, Joe Ajaero, and deputy president of TUC, Tommy Okon the labour groups said it was better to walk out of the negotiation pending when government would show serious commitment to a fairand sustainable resolution of the impasse.
The Labour leaders who noted that they could not accept a wage proposal that would result in a reduction in income for federal-level workers who were already receiving ₦30,000 as minimum wage added that such act would undermine the economic-well being of workers and their families.