By Joan Nwagwu
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to device ways of reviewing minimum wage law annually due to the inflationary trend in the country.
Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President said this the 2nd National Labour Adjudication and Arbitration Forum, organised by the National Employers Consultative Association (NECA) on Tuesday in Abuja.
The theme of the forum is, :Strengthening Tripartitism and Social Dialogue (including alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms) for a Sustainable Industrial Relations System in Nigeria.
Ajaero said that the government should have a rethink as the five year cycle was not favourable to the Nigerian workers due impact of the high cost of living effecting workers salaries.
According to him, no matter what amount you negotiate in present Nigerian economy, in the next five years, it cannot buy a bag of rice.
“There is a need to tinker with the law providing for five yearly renegotiation of national minimum wage to allow for yearly adjustment of wages based on the level of inflation and value of the Naira.
“This is important because people have been coming up to say that if we increase salaries, it will affect the inflation but should we leave salary to be constant while other variables continue to grow?”
Ajaero also said that workers are displeased over the poor implementation of the wage award by government, saying that nobody is paying the N35,000 as agreed last year.
The NLC president however noted that most of the federal government workers were yet to receive their January salary.
He therefore called on the Federal Government to expidite action on the implementation of the 16 points agreement reached with organised labour to cushion the effect the fuel subsidy removal.
He also assured workers that organised labour would do all that was possible to negotiate a living wage at the tripartite committee on national minimum wage ongoing meeting.
Ajaero added that it is better for him to be in jail than see workers earning poor wages less than what prison dogs consume.
Also, Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, commended NECA’s collaboration with the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) for organising the forum.
Onyejeocha said the forum was aimed at addressing the pressing issues surrounding Labour Adjudication and Arbitration.
According to her, it is also aimed at fostering dialogue among stakeholders to promote peaceful industrial relations and enhance collaboration.
She said this forum provides invaluable insights and create momentum for the enhancement of our industrial relations framework.
“The forum must collectively advance our efforts towards a more robust and equitable labour landscape.
“I hope this forum serves as a catalyst for transformative change, leading to enhanced Labour Adjudication and Arbitration processes aligned with the principles of fairness, equity, and justice as per ILO standards,” she stated.
Also, Sen. Dike Plang, Chairman, Senate Committee on Employment, Labour and Profuctivity, said the theme of the forum was apt.
Plang said that issues of tripartism, social dialogue and sustainable industrial relations in Nigeria was critical to the development agenda of any country.
“This discussion is therefore not only appropriate but timely considering the monumental changes that are taking place in the world of work globally.
“There is need to create an enabling environment for peace and harmony that will guarantee workers productivity, fundamental rights, social justice and national development.
“For us at the 10th National Assembly, the Renowned Hope Agenda of President Tinubu Administration will be better achieved if there are collaboration and unity of purpose among the various socio-economic and political strata of the country,”he said.
He also said the cooperation of the tripartite in creating conducive atmosphere for effective implementation of the development goals would not be overemphasised.
He therefore assured all of a comprehensive review and amendment of existing Labour Laws to conform to International Labour Standards.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu and its social partners for constituting and inaugurating the tripartite Committee on the review of minimum wage for Nigeria workers.
He noted that the reviewe was to ensure that Nigeria workers receive a living wage that would motivate them for higher productivity.
“My Committee will therefore support the efforts of the tripartite in the realisation of a reasonable minimum wage.
“We will also support once the negotiation are concluded and an acceptable rate communicated to the National Assembly for enactment to an Act,”he added.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)