Labour Unions Give One-Week Ultimatum To NERC, Power Sector Operators To Reverse 300% Electricity Tariff Hike

*”Your Days of Worrying Are Over,” Tinubu Tells Workers On May Day
President Bola Tinubu assured Nigerian workers that the issues causing the delay in pronouncing the long-awaited new minimum wage, which had dashed workers’ hopes, would soon be resolved.
Speaking at the commemoration of Workers’ Day (May Day) in Abuja, Tinubu, represented by Vice President Ibrahim Shettema, pledged that his government would consider not only a minimum wage but also a living wage for workers.
He highlighted the establishment of a 37-member Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage by the Federal Government on January 30th, 2024, with the mandate to recommend a national minimum wage aligned with current economic conditions.
“You would recall that on January 30th, 2024, the Federal Government convened a 37-member Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage. The committee’s mandate was to provide counsel and suggest a national minimum wage that aligns with our current economic conditions. Since then, the committee, in collaboration with labour leaders, has been diligently working towards proposing a new National Minimum Wage. Unfortunately, despite concerted efforts, the committee was unable to reach a consensus at its last meeting.
“This shall be resolved soon and I assure you that your days of worrying are over. Indeed, this government is open to the committee’s suggestion of not just a minimum wage but a living wage.”
Tinubu further urged Nigerian workers to embrace industrial harmony and trust that his administration will deliver on the promises of better living conditions for workers and all Nigerians.
Meanwhile, Nigerian workers have issued a warning that industrial harmony cannot be guaranteed in every sector of the country’s economy if the Federal Government fails to conclude all negotiations on a new minimum wage, approve it, pronounce it, and kick-start the implementation process by the end of May 2024.
This was a unanimous position contained in a May Day address read by President of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress Comrade Joe Ajaero and Comrade Festus Osifo respectively, on Tuesday in Abuja, where a mammoth crowd of workers had gathered to celebrate the annual workers day celebration.
The leadership of the labour movements who placed their members on an alert to ensure the process was not sabotaged, noted that after placing an offer of N615,000 as a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers, labour was still awaiting a counteroffer from the government, represented by the National Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee.
The duo said, “At this point comrades, we want to inform you that the process of fixing a new national minimum wage is still continuing. All the parties in the Tripartite process are well represented and the engagement has been robust. We have placed our demand of N615,000 Six hundred and fifteen thousand Naira only before our social partners while we await their offer
“Remember that earlier in the year, we sent questionnaires to all of you across the nation with which we sought to measure the actual cost of living for an average family of six. Your response to that questionnaire which you also administered across the 776 LGAs assisted us in arriving at the figure with minor adjustments
“Placed before them also is our demand that the new act shall have a two-year life with an agreement for automatic adjustment in wages any time inflation exceeds 7.5%. We have also demanded that every employer with up to five (5) workers in his employ shall pay the new minimum wage and have also asked for the strengthening of monitoring and compliance mechanisms to penalize non-complying state governments.
“We have done this with the understanding that Nigerian workers deserve to have a national minimum wage that approximates a Living wage. Our figures are based on objective realities around the nation and not based on some fantasy but on what confronts us as workers around the nation. We hope that our social partners will see the reality of what we have done and the demands that represent our basic needs to expedite action so that the process will come speedily to an end given the painstaking effort we have put across the nation. We want to be able to buy rice, beans, bread, Housing, clothes, pay school fees, Medicare, pay electricity bills etc. Any Wage that is below the Living Wage condemns workers to starvation and we are sure that our social partners would not want that.
“However, it is important that we urge every worker around the nation to remain vigilant as this process winds to an end. We must not let our guards down but be at alert so that together, we can assist the government in making the right decision and pay workers a living wage as promised by our President; his Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his inaugural speech. We will not allow other interests to sabotage the desire of the president concerning a Living wage for workers.
“If however, the negotiation of the National Minimum wage is not concluded by the end of May, the Trade Union Movement in Nigeria will no longer guarantee industrial peace in the country.”
The TUC president who further clarified Labour’s position noted that, “If by the end of the month nothing is done, we are going to push. You know we have several tools that can be used to compel them to do what is needed
“We encourage the vice president to compel the committee to meet as early as tomorrow let us conclude this work.
“We have had a public hearing they said it’s a survey that they want to go around and come up with a survey but a week or two is enough for them to have come up with a survey not even a month plus.”
Disturbed over the 300% hike in electricity tariff and epileptic power situation which was negatively affecting the nation’s economic growth, labour appealed to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and power sector operators to reverse the increase in electricity tariff within one week.
They said: “It’s imperative that any nation incapable of effectively and efficiently managing its energy resources faces certain ruin. One of the pivotal factors constraining our nation is our glaring incompetence in managing this sector for the collective welfare of our citizens.
“Power regardless of its source, remains paramount in kickstarting any economy, while oil and gas are indispensable for robust energy success in every country.”
The duo said, “At this point comrades, we want to inform you that the process of fixing a new national minimum wage is still continuing. All the parties in the Tripartite process are well represented and the engagement has been robust. We have placed our demand of N615,000 Six hundred and fifteen thousand Naira only before our social partners while we await their offer
“Remember that earlier in the year, we sent questionnaires to all of you across the nation with which we sought to measure the actual cost of living for an average family of six. Your response to that questionnaire which you also administered across the 776 LGAs assisted us in arriving at the figure with minor adjustments
“Placed before them also is our demand that the new act shall have a two-year life with an agreement for automatic adjustment in wages any time inflation exceeds 7.5%. We have also demanded that every employer with up to five (5) workers in his employ shall pay the new minimum wage and have also asked for the strengthening of monitoring and compliance mechanisms to penalize non-complying state governments.
“We have done this with the understanding that Nigerian workers deserve to have a national minimum wage that approximates a Living wage. Our figures are based on objective realities around the nation and not based on some fantasy but on what confronts us as workers around the nation. We hope that our social partners will see the reality of what we have done and the demands that represent our basic needs to expedite action so that the process will come speedily to an end given the painstaking effort we have put across the nation. We want to be able to buy rice, beans, bread, Housing, clothes, pay school fees, Medicare, pay electricity bills etc. Any Wage that is below the Living Wage condemns workers to starvation and we are sure that our social partners would not want that.
“However, it is important that we urge every worker around the nation to remain vigilant as this process winds to an end. We must not let our guards down but be at alert so that together, we can assist the government in making the right decision and pay workers a living wage as promised by our President; his Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his inaugural speech. We will not allow other interests to sabotage the desire of the president concerning a Living wage for workers.
“If however, the negotiation of the National Minimum wage is not concluded by the end of May, the Trade Union Movement in Nigeria will no longer guarantee industrial peace in the country.”
The TUC president who further clarified Labour’s position noted that, “If by the end of the month nothing is done, we are going to push. You know we have several tools that can be used to compel them to do what is needed
“We encourage the vice president to compel the committee to meet as early as tomorrow let us conclude this work.
“We have had a public hearing they said it’s a survey that they want to go around and come up with a survey but a week or two is enough for them to have come up with a survey not even a month plus.”
Disturbed over the 300% hike in electricity tariff and epileptic power situation which was negatively affecting the nation’s economic growth, labour appealed to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and power sector operators to reverse the increase in electricity tariff within one week.
They said: “It’s imperative that any nation incapable of effectively and efficiently managing its energy resources faces certain ruin. One of the pivotal factors constraining our nation is our glaring incompetence in managing this sector for the collective welfare of our citizens.
“Power regardless of its source, remains paramount in kickstarting any economy, while oil and gas are indispensable for robust energy success in every country.”
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