Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) don warn say Nigerian workers still dey suffer under the weight of bad economy, even though dem don increase minimum wage reach ₦70,000. The labour union insist say the two weeks wey e give Federal Government to reduce petrol price and start fresh talk about workers’ salary still dey stand.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, talk this one on Monday for Abuja, as e criticise the way dem take carry out the 2024 minimum wage agreement. E call on government to quickly do something about the high cost of living wey dey make life hard for workers.
Ajaero talk as wahala between labour union and Federal Government dey increase over the way petrol price dey affect workers’ money. Labour dey demand make government reduce petrol price and reopen talk about workers’ salary.
Even as Ajaero insist say the ultimatum still dey stand, e urge government to take action to reduce workers’ suffering instead of waiting make labour begin strike or protest before dem go listen.
But Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, talk say government need balance workers’ demand for better salary with the money wey government get to spend. E warn say make dem avoid strike and other wahala wey fit stop work.
The matter show say wahala between government and labour dey grow as dem dey try find way to improve workers’ life without putting too much pressure on government money, especially as the 2027 general election dey come.
Ajaero say government suppose do something about the way workers’ money no longer fit buy the things wey dem need, instead of waiting until labour begin protest before dem go bring help.
E talk say, “I never come here to discuss my ultimatum. My ultimatum still dey stand. I don talk about am before, and this no be the place to negotiate am. The fact say the permanent secretary dey here no mean say we fit begin negotiate ultimatum. E don reply our letter, and we don reply am again. So, we go continue with that matter.
“But to the head of service, sir, Nigerian workers really dey suffer. And if you do something to help dem, history go remember all of us for am.”
The labour leader talk this one as concern dey increase over how high petrol price dey reduce the money wey workers fit use take care of their families, and whether the ₦70,000 minimum wage still fit meet their needs.
NLC don give Federal Government two weeks to reduce petrol price and begin fresh talk about minimum wage. The union argue say the way prices of things don increase don make workers’ salary lose plenty of the value wey e get before.
Even though Ajaero confirm say government officials don dey exchange letters with labour over the ultimatum, e insist say the meeting wey dem gather for no be the right place to negotiate the matter.
E say workers dey face serious money wahala, as the ₦70,000 minimum wage wey dem agree on for 2024 no longer dey enough to meet the basic needs of many families.
According to am, plenty workers dey struggle to buy food and pay transport fare, and e say government need to step in urgently to ease their suffering.
Ajaero talk say, “The point wey we dey make no be strike. Wetin we dey talk be say whether you enter bus or buy fuel, you no go still get money chop.”
E explain say for other countries, government dey bring out measures to help workers face hard economic times before matter reach the level wey fit cause strike or protest.
E say Federal Government suppose follow the same example by taking workers’ complaints seriously, bringing help on time and holding meaningful talks with labour leaders.
E add say, “To wait until Labour come out for road before we address this matter no be wetin dey happen for other parts of the world. Countries everywhere dey bring out measures to help people even before Labour take action. I think say we suppose act on time.”
The NLC president also criticise the way government take adjust workers’ salary after the 2024 minimum wage agreement. E disagree with the claim say federal workers receive salary increase of about 133 per cent.
According to Ajaero, wetin government do na to add ₦40,000 to the salary of each federal worker. E argue say this one no mean say workers receive the kind percentage increase wey some people dey claim.
E talk say, “After the last minimum wage negotiation, some of una don dey argue say e bring about 133 per cent increase. But wetin the head of service and dem do na to add ₦40,000 to every worker’s salary. That one no be the correct way to negotiate salary.”
