TUC Condemns FG’s Delay in Implementation of Minimum Wage

Solomon Elusoji

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has decried the delay in constitution of the National Minimum Wage’s 29 member committee, which will negotiate and arrive at a new Minimum Wage for the country.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the constitution of the committee in May.
The TUC called on the federal government not to task the patience of workers beyond the limit, as the current wage structure is no longer tenable when viewed against the country’s economic realities.

The condemnation was part of conclusions contained in a communiqué issued by the TUC and signed by the Trade Union’s President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama and its Secretary General, Comrade Musa-Lawal Ozigi, after its recent National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Lagos.

The TUC also opposed the suggestion by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo that the Minimum Wage would be selectively implemented, describing the move as “retrogressive and therefore not acceptable. “The NEC- in session kicks against it and demands that the minimum wage implementation should be holistic and not selective. Minimum wage is for all and remains and should remain in the exclusive list”, said the labour organisation.

On the recent heightened calls for restructuring, TUC frowned on the approach of those appearing to divide the country. “A fragmented Nigeria will serve no one any good,” the Trade Union said, adding, “we have lived together for over 100 years and we should not be fooled by those calling for disunity. In one united Nigeria, we advocate restructuring that enhances efficiency of government business and creating a society where we have equal stake in the survival of the nation.”

The TUC also called on the federal government, as a matter of urgency to establish a Secondary Education Commission in Nigeria, observing that unlike other tiers of education in the country, there is no commission in place to regulate the operations of secondary school education in the country. “This is in spite of the fact that the bill for the setting up of this commission was passed into law more than a decade ago,” the TUC communiqué said.

On casualisation and outsourcing in the labour industry, TUC said it believes that the issue of casualisation and outsourcing is becoming a serious problem because it is not properly regulated and monitored by government agencies. “Outsourced and contract workers do not enjoy regular terms and conditions of employment particularly as they have been deprived of union membership,” the Trade Union said.

The Union equally condemned the proposed amendment of the LNG Act, noting that it will damage the country’s image and harm the much needed foreign investment, bearing in mind the implication for security and attendant job losses.
On local manufacturing, TUC wants government to revisit the issue of export expansion grant (EEG), so as to encourage export and earn more foreign exchange to boost our GDP.