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.”
