NLC says new minimum wage underway, reaffirms pact with NECA

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has said that it would continue to offer every needed comradeship to ensure that federal government implements new minimum wage before the end of the year. This is contained in a speech delivered by the NLC Secretary-General Professor peter Ezon. He said “in order to make the organized labour a strong body in pursuant of its cause, both bodies should continue to have a bond”. He noted that an African proverb instructs, “you cannot clap with one hand”, stressing that the NLC recognises the critical role that NECA plays in fostering and facilitating industrial harmony in Nigeria.

“NECA as the representative body of Employers in Nigeria’s Private Sector has always shown demonstrable understanding of the imperatives of respecting workers’ rights as a necessary condition for sustained productivity and wealth creation. NECA has also over the years demonstrated strong empathy with the welfare of Nigerian workers especially with regards to meeting basic conditions for decent work”. “As organised labour, we appreciate the role and contributions of NECA in the ongoing negotiations for a new national minimum wage. Even while negotiations are still ongoing, NECA has identified with workers’ demand for a new national minimum wage which as far as we are concerned is already long overdue.

NECA has promised to pay the new national minimum wage as soon as it is agreed upon and passed into law”. He observed that this proactive posture by NECA on a new national minimum wage speaks volumes of the pro-labour and patriotic disposition of employers in Nigeria to workers. He stated that the two of the tripods of social partnership – labour and employers are already in agreement over the national minimum wage. “We urge the last remaining leg of the tripod which is the government to do the needful and give Nigerian workers a deserving new national minimum wage before the end of August 2018.

Yes, NECA has a strong bond with Nigerian workers but it is not all Uhuru! There are still a few employers who have refused to be on the same page with the rest of employers in taking the issue of workers’ rights and entitlements serious”.

“Culled”