New Minimum wage: “Any Delay Tactics Will Attract  Our Wrath” – Organized Labour To States

By Ayodele Oni

The Organized Labour may have commenced moves to ensure state governments pay the new minimum wage of N70,000 as soon as possible.

It was gathered that this is to ensure that all states comply with the new minimum wage act to give the workers new lease of life.

As at last count, not less than ten states defaulted in the payment of the N30,000 minimum wage approved during the immediate past administration of President Mohammadu Buhari.

To this end, organized labour have urged the 36 State Governments not to foot drag in the payment of consequential adjustments in salaries arising from the National minimum wage Act 2024 to workers in order to avoid the wrath of organized Labour.

This was contained in the circular issued by the National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Trade Union Side and signed by the acting National Secretary JNPSNC  Olowoyo Gbenga dated 27th September,2024.

The circular, was addressed to all State Councils’ Chairmen and Secretaries of joint Public Service Negotiating Council titled “Circulars on the implementation of consequential adjustments as a result of new national minimum wage.”

The circular warned that any surreptitious attempt to create artificial bottlenecks that will scuttle timely implementation of the Consequential Adjustments arising from the National minimum wage Act 2024 will not be treated with kid gloves by the Organized Labour, hence, the discussion must be expeditiously handled by the State governments

The circular reads in part “I have the directive of the National leadership of JNPSNC to forward the various circulars issued by the National Salaries, income and Wages Commission for the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage Act and to serve as the template for New salary structures for implementation at the sub national and Local Government levels

“These circulars were issued as a result of the outcome of the meeting of committee on the Consequential Adjustments in Salaries arising from the National minimum wage Act set up by the Federal Government where the Head of Civil Service of the Federation was the Chairperson from the Government Side, while the National Chairman of the joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) was the Chairman from the Trade Union Side. ”

The circular stated that the Heads of Service at the State levels are to be the Chairperson from the Government side, while the state chairpersons of joint Public Service Negotiating Council are to be the Chairperson from the Labour side in the negotiation process.

“It’s also important that all JNPSNC State Chairmen should work cohesively with their State NLC and TUC leadership for a successful negotiation

“These clarifications are very expedient in order to ensure a seamless negotiation process that will accelerate quick discussion so as to facilitate implementation of the New National Minimum Wage Act 2024 to the entire workers in Nigeria.

“From the foregoing, State Council’s leadership should not hesitate to contact the National leadership of JNPSNC for any further clarification where and when necessary .

“It is desideratum to call on the State and Local Governments not to foot drag unnecessarily in the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage Act to workers, so as to mitigate the current economic hardships being faced by both workers and the entire populace in Nigeria, in a little way.

“Any delay tactics will attract the wrath of the Organized Labour.”