FG blames labour for delay in implementation – TheNigerialawyer

The Federal Government has attributed the delay in the
implementation of the “Consequential Adjustment” of the N30, 000
new minimum wage to the unrealistic demands of labour unions.

The Chairman, National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission,
Chief Richard Egbule made this known in an interview with the News
Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Monday.

Egbule explained that the current demand of the labour unions
would raise the total wage bill too high and that was why
government could not accept their proposed salary adjustments.

“Labour is asking for consequential adjustment and government in
its wisdom had made budgetary provision for an adjustment of N10,
000 across the board for those already earning above N30, 000 per
month.

“However, the Unions have refused this offer, saying that
because the increase in minimum wage from 18,000 to N30, 000 was 66
per cent, therefore they want 66 per cent increment across the
board.

“We told them that the minimum wage was not raised from N18, 000
to N30, 000 through percentage increase but as a result of
consideration of economic factors including ability to pay.

“However, we said that if they want consequential adjustments in
percentage terms, we will use a percentage that when applied will
not exceed what has been provided for in the budget.

“The computation based on a percentage which government had
given to labour, was 9.5 per cent from level 7 to 14 including
level 1-6 of those salary structures that did not benefit from the
minimum wage.

“And then five per cent from level 15 to 17. Labour countered
the offer and proposed 30 per cent increase for level 7 to 14 and
25 per cent for level 15 to 17.

“One point we keep repeating is, it will be unfair that because
you gave the person earning minimum wage N12, 000, you give a level
17 officer almost N100, 000 if you apply 25 per cent,’’ he
said.

Egbule said that at the last meeting between the Federal
Government and the labour unions, the government proposed a 10 per
cent increment for level seven to 14 and a 5.5 per cent increase
for level 15 to 17.

He advised labour to come to a compromise because government had
so far been magnanimous in agreeing to increase salaries without
any threat of downsizing.

“Labour is currently stretching out and eating up the time that
people could have used in benefiting from the adjustment because
the new minimum wage was implemented since April.

“My advice is for labour to accept the terms for now and prepare
to fight for the harmonization of salaries that is coming up.
Harmonization of salaries will take care of this issue.

“The committee has already been formed and awaiting
inauguration. I want them (labour) to know this and liberate us
from this unnecessary log jam,” he said.

(NAN)

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