The Organised Labour has reassured the public that there will be no strike action tomorrow, Tuesday, regarding the ongoing negotiations on the minimum wage with the Federal Government.
Following a week-long suspension of strike action by Labour, discussions have been underway between Labour representatives and the government to finalize details on the new minimum wage.
With the suspension period ending today, concerns arose about the possibility of renewed strike action.
However, addressing concerns at the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, affirmed that there are no plans for a strike tomorrow.
Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, Ajaero clarified that Labour is awaiting the decision of President Bola Tinubu before making any further moves.
He emphasized that once President Tinubu’s decision is known, Labour’s National Executive Council (NEC) will convene to deliberate on the proposed new wage figure.
Ajaero said: “The tripartite committee submitted two figures to the President. Government and employers proposed N62,000, while labour proposed N250,000.
“We are waiting for the decision of the President. Our National Executive Council, NEC, will deliberate on the new figure when it is out.
“We cannot declare strike now because the figures are with the President. We will wait for the President’s decision.
“During the tenure of the immediate past President, the figure proposed to him was N27,000 by the tripartite committee.
“But he increased it to N30,000. We are hopeful that this President will do the right thing. The President had noted that the difference between N62,000 and N250,000 is a wide gulf.”
Speaking on the stand of 36 state governors who said they cannot pay the N60,000 minimum wage proposed by the government, Ajaero said: “How can any governor say he cannot pay? They cannot also be calling for the decentralisation of the minimum wage.
“Are there wages decentralised?
“Governors whose states are not contributing a dime to the national purse and who generate pitiable Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, are collecting the same amount as governors whose states are generating billions of dollars into the FAAC.
“They should decentralise their salaries and emoluments first.
“So, where is the governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki, getting his money from? He is paying N70,000 minimum wage.
“This is the type of governor that should be emulated and not the lazy ones.”
This announcement brings a sense of relief to the public, indicating ongoing efforts towards amicable resolutions in the minimum wage negotiations.