Minimum Wage: NLC chapters set to write govs on implementation

There are strong indications that the state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress will as from May 1 begin talks with their state governments on the implementation of the N30 , 000 minimum wage recently approved by President Muhammadu Buhari .

Investigations by The PUNCH on Sunday showed that while some state chapters of the NLC would begin meeting with the state governments on May 1 ( May Day ) , others insisted that they would wait for a circular from the National Salaries , Incomes and Wages Commission before they could start negotiation.

The unionists said that they would not tolerate any reduction in the N30, 000 minimum wage by any state government .

Ekiti NLC to meet state govt

For instance , the Ekiti State Chairman of the NLC , Olatunde Kolapo , in an interview with The PUNCH on Saturday , said labour would meet with the state government on May 1 .

Kolapo , who was inaugurated as the NLC state chairman on Thursday , said , “ We just came on board . The meeting with the state government will take place next ( this ) week . Wednesday is Workers’ Day . That is still an avenue . All we need to know is when to expect it .

“ There is no negotiation again because it has been signed into law . So , as a law , it is binding on all state governments to implement it . There is no going back on it . Workers in Ekiti State are looking forward to it . ”

On what would happen if the state government came up with excuses , the labour leader said , “ I don ’ t think the Ekiti State Governor , Dr Kayode Fayemi , will have any different view because his Chief of Staff , Mr Biodun Omoleye , who represented him at our delegates’ conference on Thursday , spoke the mind of the government on the readiness to pay.

“ I want to believe there is no cause for alarm. Labour will not take anything short of the N30, 000 minimum wage in Ekiti , ” Kolapo said .

We will write to Osun govt this week – State NLC

However , his Osun State counterpart , Jacob Adekomi , said the chapter had received the communication last week from the NLC national headquarters to begin negotiation.

Continue Reading - PUNCHNG