The Federal Government has appealed to the organized labour to return along the path of negotiations with auspices of the Tripartite Committee established to fashion out realistic minimum wage for the Nigerian people and halt the ongoing nationwide strike.
Information and National Orientation Minister, Mohammed Idris who made the appeal during a press briefing on Monday said Federal govt will continue to engage, and continue to make itself very available in the context of these negotiations on behalf of the Nigerian people.
“As Government, we are desirous of a peaceful outcome, and we will do everything to make this happen. Yesterday, the leadership of the National Assembly met with the Unions. Today, we have offered another invitation to the Unions, to meet with us and continue our discussions”, he said.
The Minister made it clear that the Federal Government is not opponent on this negotiating table but united by the fact that Government want the best for the Federal Republic of Nigeria and for all 200 million citizens of the country.
“We have a responsibility to strike a measured and realistic balance, in this effort to arrive at a new minimum wage for Nigerians”.
Idris reminded Nigerians of the fundamental facts that the minimum wage is not only for public sector workers but also will be binding on private sector as well, adding that this reality must be factored into the negotiations.
According to him, “As I have explained earlier, Labour’s current proposal of N494,000 is an increase of 1,547 percent on the existing wage, and translates into an annual wage bill of 9.5 Trillion Naira for the Federal Government of Nigeria alone.
“This is apart from its cost implications for subnational governments and private sector employees. Such a wage bill would cripple the Nigerian economy, by leading to massive job losses especially in the private sector.
“The National Consumer Credit Scheme and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) are additional significant demonstrations of a determination to bring relief to the people of Nigeria.
“We want the Labour Unions to understand that the relief that Nigerians are expecting, and that they fully deserve, will not come only in the form of increased wages. It will also come as efforts to reduce the cost of living, and to ensure that more money stays in the pockets of Nigerians.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) is firmly committed to doing what is right, reasonable and sustainable regarding these minimum wage negotiations. We call on the Labour Unions to reciprocate this gesture in the interest of the nation”, the Minister said.
