Coalition Called On Labour To Accept N22,500 Minimum Wage In Good Faith

A coalition of over 79 Civil Society organizations under the aegis of Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness has called on the organized Labour, NLC and TUC to consider and accept the of 22,500 Naira minimum wage as realistic and achievable in other to avert an imminent collapse of our economy and a possible retrenchment of the workforce.

While addressing the media on Friday in Abuja on Friday,  the Director General of Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness,  Dr. Nwambu Gabriel said that  any national strike action nor a boycott of the 2019 General Election will tantamount to disenfranchising the entire nation's labour force which is not only anti‘democratic but counterproductive to the Nigerian State.

The coalition enjoined Labour to see reasons with Government in the onerous task of nation building and sacrifice to her fatherland.

Excerpt is the full text of the press briefing;

A TEXT OF PRESS CONFERENCE BY A COALITION OF OVER 79 CIVIL SOCIETY AND NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS) ON RESOLVING THE MINIMUM WAGE ISSUES IN NIGERIA.  

Good morning Gentlemen of the fourth realm. 

The issues bothering on arriving and agreeing on a minimum wage by either the tripartite committee, the Nigeria Governors Forum, the organized Labour, TUC, NLC, etc. has no doubt dominated a national discuss with the threat of strike action by Labour expected to commence on the Tuesday, 6th November, 2018 with a possible boycott of the 2019 General Elections. 

it is also our firm belief that the worker as true patriots of the Nigerian nation deserves very good condition of work and a sustainable living wage, bringing to bare the inflationary trend in the country and the prevailing economic realities.. 

We as a coalition has clinically examined very germane issues raised by all the parties involved in the negotiation. The facts must be spelt out the way it is. 

The introduction of the 18,000 naira minimum wage came as a great relief. But the reality is that till date, some states of the federation are yet to implement it and even some states who implemented the increase in wages are still unable to 

pay fully the agreed sum. 

Several states still owe salaries not because the individual Governors do not want to pay but because resources available to individual states and the internally generated revenue (IGR) vary from one state to the other. 

The Federal Government cannot also compel states to pay Specific amount as minimum wage because the infrastructural, educational, health, etc. needs of each state also vary. 

Now, the tendency is that if states are compelled by any form of legislation to pay some specific amount as minimum wage, then the states might resort to the only available option to the retrenchment of the work force. This option IS what the states are consistently trying to avoid because of the prevailing economic condition. 

'The Nigerian economy is already over burdened with very high re-current expenditure which is sourced abroad via borrowing. Our economy is hemorrhaging seriously. The IMF has warned Nigeria on the possible consequences of excessive borrowing. We can further worsen this situation via a unilateral increase of wages thus causing a Cash-Push and Make-Up type of inflation.

Wage increase right from the Udoji Award is known to be a major cause of inflation. 

The life wire of our economy is hinged on crude oil sales. Today, the price of crude is no longer what it used to be. 

As a coalition of Civil Society Organizations therefore, who are mindful of the degree of commitment of the average worker in Nigeria, we hereby call on the organized Labour, NLC, TUC, etc as true patriotic citizens of Nigeria they are, to please reconsider the of 22, 500 naira as realistic and achievable in other to avert an imminent collapse of our economy and a possible retrenchment of the workforce. 

The primary responsibility of any Government is beyond salary payment. 

Consequently, today the 2nd day of November, 2018, may we also advice that embarking on another national strike action nor a boycott of the 2019 General Election which tantamount to disenfranchising the entire nation's labour force is not only anti‘democratic but will be counterproductive to the Nigerian state. 

We enjoin Labour to see reasons with Government in this onerous task of nation building and sacrifice to our fatherland. 

LONG LIVE A UNITED NIGERIA 

Thank you.

Dr. Nwambu Gabriel, 

For the coalition