AGREEMENT has been reached by the National Labour Congress (NLC) and the Federal Government on the consequential adjustments to the new 30,000 minimum wage after several failed attempts.
NLC had earlier threatened industrial action if an agreement is not reached between both parties by Wednesday 16th October.
The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), the ministry of labour and employment and ministry of state, labour and employment as Conciliators held meetings on 16th, 17th and 18th October which resulted into a resolution that the new minimum wage shall capture increment in Federal government ministries, Departments and agencies.
Federal government has agreed a 23.2 per cent increase for grade level 07 workers, 20per cent increase for grade level 08, 19 per cent for grade level 09, 16 per cent for grade level 10 – 14 and 14 per cent increase for grade level 15 – 17 workers.
In the other group of the agreement consisting of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS), Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure, (CONUASS II), Consolidated Tertiary Institution Salary Structure (CONTISS II), Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
Also are Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTEDISS) and Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Salary structure (COMPCASS) all got a 23.2 per cent increase for grade level 07 and its equivalent, 16% increase for grade level 8 – 14 and its equivalent and 10.5 per cent increase for grade level 15 – 17 and its equivalent.
Speaking before the agreement was signed, he Minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige said, “this is a national law and it must be obeyed by all; state government, local government and all persons concerned that employ more than 25 persons in their organization”
Present at the meeting is the acting Head of Civil service of the federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan also the Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo who revealed that at about 3 am, the parties signed terms of settlement.
Keyamo revealed that although the memorandum did not capture those of the law enforcement agencies but it has been done.
As contained in the communiqué made available by Keyamo, the agreement was signed by the Acting Head of Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan, Director IPPS,OAGF of the Ministry of finance, budgeting, national planning Olusegun Olufeyinti and others from the government side.
While from the Labour side, the JNPSNC acting chairman, Simeon Anchaver and the JNPSNC Secretary General Lawal Bashir appended their signature to the agreement.
Chairman of the National Labour Congress (NLC) Ayuba Wabba and the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Quadri Olaleye signed as witnesses.
Ayuba Wabba, NLC president said the organised labour would continue to be open – minded and would keep up with the principles of collective bargaining.
He mentioned that in the practice of bargaining issues have to be looked at from both sides, and stressed on the importance of making the workers happy and very productive.
Lukman Abolade is an Investigative reporter with The ICIR. Reach out to him via labolade@icirnigeria.org, on twitter @AboladeLAA and FB @Correction94