President Bola Tinubu’s proposed N25,000 Provisional salary increase for the typical low-grade worker has been opposed by organised labour, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
As previously reported by Clusterchannel, Tinubu stated in his message of October 1 that the pay increase was intended to lessen the impact of the elimination of the petrol subsidy.
The government’s proposed six-month salary hike and the N15 million additional Conditional Cash Transfer for homes in need were also rejected by the organised employees.
Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast on the occasion of Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Anniversary said: “Based on our talks with labour, business and other stakeholders, we are introducing a provisional wage increment to enhance the federal minimum wage without causing undue inflation. For the next six months, the average low-grade worker shall receive an additional Twenty-Five Thousand naira per month.
“Commencing this month, the social safety net is being extended through the expansion of cash transfer programs to an additional 15 million vulnerable households.”
In a meeting with the Federal Government, organised labour demanded 100% of the present minimum wage.
Labour stressed that the temporary salary should apply to all employees and that it should last longer than six months, ideally until the new minimum wage is approved the following year.
The organised labour also asked that the Conditional Cash Transfer, which was being paid to the most vulnerable and needy people during the previous administration, be doubled to N25,000 from N5,000.
Femi Gbajabiamila, the chief of staff and head of the government delegation at the conference, needs to take a break after many hours of horse trading to go consult with the president about the new demands.
Simon Lalong, Minister of Labour and Employment, accompanied Gbajabiamila.
