 |
| L–R: President, NLC, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar; TUC President, Mr. Peter Esele; NLC Ag. General Secretary, Mr. Owei Lakemfa, during the consultative meeting between labour leaders and state governors over the implementation of the minimum wage at Asokoro, Abuja... on Tuesday. |
Organised labour announced the cancellation in a communique issued very late last night.
Labour hinged its decision on the agreement it reached with the Federal Government to commence full implementation of the Minimum Wage Act as from August 1, 2011.
The Federal Government had on Monday said it would only pay a certain category of workers for a start and commence the full implementation of the new wage regime next year.
Under the agreement reached very late last night, workers of all cadres in the public service will benefit from the expected upward review of salaries that will follow the implementation.
The organised labour communiqué read by the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, says, “Federal Government agreed to comply with the new National Minimum Wage Amendment Act 2011.
“Federal Government shall conclude negotiations with Labour on the implementation of the minimum wage not later than 31st July, 2011.
“Detailed negotiations on the relativity implication of the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage Act 2011 will be concluded not later than 31st July, 2011.
“The new wages will be implemented from 1st August, 2011.
“The arrears of the new wages with effect from 23rd March, 2011 will be paid not later than 31st August, 2011.
“No worker shall be victimised in any manner or form as a consequence of the implementation of the new Minimum Wage Act.
“In line with the agreement earlier reached with the Federal Government and state governors, labour resolves to suspend the three-day warning strike across the country.”
The communiqué was signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Worgu; Head of Service, Prof. Oladapo Afolabi; Omar, and President of the Trade Union Congress, Mr. Peter Esele.
Wogu promised that the Federal Government would honour the agreement.
“The economy of Nigeria can not withstand a three-day warning strike,” the minister said after the meeting that ended at 11:55pm.
Notwithstanding the last minute suspension of the strike, there were fears that most workers would stay off their duty posts today on the earlier directive of their unions.
An indication that the strike would be called off emerged at about 7.30pm when the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, in a last minute effort to stave off the strike, on Wednesday, sealed an agreement with the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress to commence full implementation of the Minimum Wage Act 2011 in August this year.
After reaching an agreement, the negotiating teams of the governors’ forum and organised labour left to meet with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation who was expected to ratify the deal on behalf of the Federal Government.
The meeting between the governors, led by the Chairman of the NGF, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, and organised labour, led by the presidents of the NLC and the TUC, Abdulwaheed Omar and Peter Esele respectively, at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja had lasted over six hours, stretching from 1.00pm to 7.20pm. The meeting at the SGF’s office lasted about four hours.
Both Amaechi and Esele refused to be categorical on the outcome of the meeting as both of them said they would not comment until they had met with Anyim.
Amaechi, when pressed by journalists, merely said that there was no sacrifice too much to be made in the interest of the country. He said the nation was bigger than any individual.
The governor said, “We have finished with them, but you should wait for labour to speak on whether the strike would still hold or not. We have agreed not to speak.
“The NLC and the TUC will be the one to speak on the matter after we must have met with the SGF.
“But let me say that we are ready to make sacrifices because the interest of the nation is bigger than that of any individual.”
Esele also said that “we are going to the office of the SGF”, adding that both parties had agreed not to speak on the issue “for now.”
However, it was gathered that the agreement was reached after the governors had tried in vain to convince the labour leaders about the poor financial situation in their states.
At some point, it was also learnt that the governors had threatened not to pay the money until the Federal Government agreed to amend the revenue allocation formula to allow the states earn more money than they were currently earning.
All these arguments were said to have been punctured by the labour leaders, who reportedly insisted that since the Federal Government had signed the law, the states must obey it.
Besides, the labour leaders were said to have told the governors that their argument could not hold water since the governors were represented during the negotiations that culminated in the pegging of the minimum wage payable to the least-paid worker at N18, 000.
At the end of the arguments, it was learnt that the governors agreed to pay the minimum wage, but called on organised labour to agree to the August take-off date.
The governors that participated at the meeting with labour included Amaechi; Adams Oshiomhole, Edo; Godswill Akpabio, Akwa Ibom; Jonah Jang, Plateau; Liyel Imoke, Cross River; Abiola Ajimobi, Oyo; Tanko Almakura, Nasarawa and Ibrahim Dankwambo, Gombe. Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Ali Olanusi.
still in need of some information? search this site:
LOVE THE ARTICLE ABOVE?
Receive Updates: subscribe to Imo Herald in a reader or sign up for Free Email Updates
No comments:
Post a Comment