Organised Labour Commends Stakeholders On The New Minimum Wage

The Organised Labour has commended stakeholders who negotiated on the consequential adjustment arising from the N30,000 new National Minimum Wage signed into Law by President Muhammadu Buhari on April 18, 2019.

The Acting Chairman, Trade Union Side (TUS), Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Simon Anchaver and Secretary, Bashir Alade, gave the commendation on Monday in Lagos.

The two leaders said that representatives of the government and organised labour applied so much energy, dedication, and intellect during the prolonged negotiation on consequential adjustment before reaching agreement acceptable to both the Federal Government and the Organised Labour.

“It is necessary to commend millions of workers at the federal and 36 states public services for their patience, understanding and confidence they reposed in the leadership of the TUS of the JNPSNC to carry out the negotiation to its logical conclusion”

“We also wish to put on record the marvelous role played by the leadership of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria and that of the Nigeria Labour Congress in ensuring a successful negotiation”.

They also commended the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, for the role plaid in managing the trade dispute by organising series of meetings before an agreement could be reached.

The leaders said they are glad that the minister has urged all employers covered by the 2019 National Minimum Wage Act to commence payment.

“Failing to pay, which the trade unions should declare trade disputes against such employers at the ministry or drag them to the National Industrial Court”.

They however expressed hope, that all sides at the just-concluded negotiation had learnt few lessons that would enable them to avoid similar mistakes in the future.

The two leaders of the Organised Labour in advice to the government said that since the 2019 National Minimum Wage was signed into Law by President Buhari on April 18, 2019, the implementation should also begin from that date in order not to trigger another avoidable round of agitation.