NLC clarifies role in new minimum wage negotiations

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has clarified its position on the forthcoming national minimum wage negotiations, explaining its role in determining the new wage and the responsibility for negotiating consequential adjustments.

The Congress made the clarification in a statement on Sunday signed by its Acting General Secretary, Comrade Benson Upah.

The NLC said its responsibility in the minimum wage negotiation process was to negotiate the basic wage floor below which no worker should be paid.

“For the purpose of clarity, we state that the national minimum wage is set through a tripartite process involving the labour movement, the government, and employers’ representatives. The NLC’s mandate at this stage is clear and unambiguous: to negotiate the national minimum wage; the primary and basic floor below which no worker should be paid,” the statement read.

It explained that once the national minimum wage is agreed upon, the responsibility for negotiating consequential adjustments, which involves aligning existing salary structures with the new minimum wage, falls on the respective sectors.

“The NLC does not sit at the table to negotiate consequential adjustments in the various sectors,” it stated.

The Congress added that the leadership of unions in the public and private sectors bears responsibility for negotiating the adjustments in their respective sectors.

It also explained that the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, JPSNC, handles negotiations on implementation and consequential adjustments with the Federal Government on behalf of public sector workers.

The NLC further pledged to ensure that the forthcoming minimum wage exercise produces an outcome that benefits Nigerian workers.

“The NLC will do its best to ensure that the outcome of this forthcoming exercise continues to serve Nigerian workers and masses and approximates a living wage,” the statement added.