The Abia State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has recently shed some light on the delay in implementing the agreed minimum wage of N70,000. This wage was settled upon by organized labor and the Federal Government. According to NLC officials, the delay is due to the fact that the offer from the Abia State government fell short of the agreed amount.
Governor's Perspective
Governor Alex Otti spoke to journalists at the Government House on Friday, providing insight into the situation. He mentioned that a team established by his administration to handle minimum wage issues is still awaiting feedback from the NLC. However, the NLC has countered this by stating that they are waiting for directions from their national council.
NLC’s Explanation
In a recent discussion on Labour’s “True Position,” the Chairman of NLC in Abia, Okoro Ogbonnaya, clarified the NLC’s stance. He revealed that the offer from the Abia State government was less than the approved N70,000, which the NLC promptly rejected. Ogbonnaya emphasized that the N70,000 minimum wage, which applies to employees on Level 1 Step 1, is non-negotiable.
Upcoming Discussions
Ogbonnaya, speaking to FLO 94.9 FM in Umuahia, noted that the NLC is keen on addressing not only the minimum wage but also consequential adjustments for various levels of employees. The labor team is preparing to meet with the government committee again, equipped with the approved template from the NLC headquarters to guide these discussions.
Wage Award vs. Minimum Wage
Ogbonnaya also acknowledged that the Abia State government is currently paying a Wage Award, which differs from the Minimum Wage, to civil servants. He firmly stated that any amount below N70,000 is unacceptable. The NLC Chairman reiterated that their focus is on negotiating consequential adjustments rather than settling for less than the agreed minimum wage.
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