NLC gives governors Dec 31 deadline – TheNigerialawyer

The Nigeria Labour Congress says it cannot guarantee industrial
peace and harmony, if state governors refused to conclude
negotiations and payment of the National Minimum Wage by December
31.

In a communique issued at the end of its meeting with state
council chairmen on the implementation of the National Minimum
Wage, the union said there were currently three implementation
categories in which all states fell into.

The communique was jointly signed by the NLC President; Dr Ayuba
Wabba, NLC General Secretary; Emmanuel Ugboaja and Abdulrafiu
Adeniji; National Chairperson, Joint National Public Service
Negotiating Council (Trade Union Side).

The communique noted that Kaduna, Kebbi, Lagos and Adamawa have
commenced the implementation and payment of the new minimum wage,
while Jigawa had concluded negotiations but yet to make its first
payment to workers.

It also noted that Borno, Abia, Kano, Bayelsa, Sokoto, Niger,
Abia, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi, Katsina, and Zamfara States,
have constituted a negotiating committee between their state
government and Labour, following consequential adjustments of
salaries.

“States which have not put in place a Negotiating Committee
between the State Government and Labour on the consequential
adjustment of salaries, include Bauchi, Yobe, Rivers, Benue, Gombe,
Kwara, Imo, Osun, Ekiti, Oyo, Anambra, Taraba, Cross River, Ogun,
Enugu, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kogi, and Delta States.”

The communique noted that Organised Labour in the states
comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, and
the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (Trade Union
Side) would work in harmony to ensure that all workers enjoy the
full benefit of the new National Minimum Wage.

The union urged state chairmen to immediately convoke an
emergency State Executive Council meeting and State Congress of all
workers to brief them of the outcome of the stakeholders’ meeting
on the new national minimum wage implementation.

“States that are still on the discussion table (Category 2)
should expedite discussions to conclude the negotiations on or
before the 31st of December, 2019.

“States which have not commenced discussion should quickly
constitute a Negotiating Committee and expeditiously conclude
discussions on salary adjustment consequent on the new national
minimum wage on or before 31st December 2019.

“In the event that any state fails to comply with these
resolutions on or before 31st December 2019, organised labour would
not guarantee industrial harmony in such states,” it added.
(NAN)