The Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria expressed dissatisfaction with the delay in finalizing negotiations on a new minimum wage and urged the Federal Government to expedite the process. TUC President, Comrade Festus Osifo, made this call after the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, ruling out the likelihood of implementing a new minimum wage before the end of May.
Additionally, TUC lamented the failure of some states in the Niger Delta region to pay wage awards or palliatives to their workers, singling out Delta, Imo, and Benue as the worst offenders. Furthermore, they criticized the Federal Government for not disbursing wage awards to federal workers for the months of March and April, calling for immediate action to alleviate economic hardship.
Comrade Osifo emphasized the importance of empowering the working class to boost the economy, highlighting the necessity of increasing purchasing power parity. He urged the Minimum Wage Committee to expedite their activities to establish a new minimum wage, asserting that it is crucial for economic recovery.
Regarding outdated labor laws, Osifo called for their review and criticized the absence of organized labor representation in the committee reviewing or implementing the Stephen Orosaye’s report. TUC demanded inclusion in the committee to safeguard the interests of workers.
Addressing the delay in the operationalization of the Port Harcourt refinery, TUC highlighted its impact on fuel scarcity and urged the government to expedite its commissioning to alleviate economic hardships. Additionally, they called for enhanced security measures to enable farmers to resume cultivation, thereby reducing commodity prices in the market.
