Labour outline seven demands, wants creation of state, LG police

The Nigeria Labour Congress has outlined seven demands from the Federal Government ahead of the May 1, 2024 Workers’ Day.

In addition to a new minimum wage, the NLC is calling for the establishment of state and local government police to address the nation’s security challenges.

The congress emphasizes that states, local governments, and the organized private sector should adhere to the new minimum wage once it is approved.

The upcoming 2024 Workers’ Day holds special significance, with expectations that President Bola Tinubu might announce the proposed new minimum wage for the country’s workers on that occasion.

Earlier this month, organized labor proposed a tentative monthly minimum wage of N615,000.

A member of the National Executive Council of the Trade Union Congress speaking anonymously on Sunday said the decision was reached before the hike in electricity tariff by the Federal Government.

The source said, “We are going to have another round of serious conversations with the government. Mind you, the tariff increase is also very good for us, because they (the government) did it when the new minimum wage process had not been concluded. So, it is going to be a good ground for us to ask for more money.”

The N30,000 subsisting minimum wage expired three days ago, as its five-year lifespan ended on April 18.

Former President Muhammad Buhari had signed the N30,000 Minimum Wage Act into law on April 18, 2019.

The tripartite committee, comprising representatives of organised private sector, organised labour and government, for a national minimum wage negotiation, follows the International Labour Organisation Convention 131.

In January, the president, through his Vice President, Kashim Shettima, had, on January 30, set up a 37-member panel at the council chamber of the State House in Abuja.

Chairing the panel is a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Bukar Aji, who, at the inauguration ceremony, affirmed that its members would come up with a “fair, practical, implementable and sustainable” minimum wage.