BREAKING: Labour Unions Reject FG’s Plan To Backdate Minimum Wage Payment
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have strongly criticized the Federal Government’s decision to backdate the implementation of the new minimum wage to July 2024.
A meeting of the Committee on Consequential Adjustments in Salaries for civil servants, held on Friday, had agreed to set July 29, 2024, as the effective date for the new minimum wage.
This agreement was outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) issued at the meeting, which was obtained by our correspondent in Abuja.
The Committee, led by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, also recommended that the wage award, which had been discontinued, should be paid up to July 28, 2024.
The government’s decision reportedly took into consideration the prevailing economic conditions in the country.
“The Committee held four meetings and considered all presentations by the Federal Government and Trade Union Sides. It also considered the economic situation and ability of Federal Government to pay and sustain any consequential adjustment in salaries arising from the implementation of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act, 2024, as well as the effect on other employers,” the MoU stated.
However, in response, the Head of Information for the NLC, Benson Upah, dismissed the decision, saying, “The backdating to July is not fair. It is not acceptable.”
Similarly, the National Vice President of the TUC, Timmy Etim, expressed disappointment, noting that workers were initially told by the Minister of State for Labour, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, during May Day celebrations that the new wage would take effect in May.
“The Minister of State for Labour, during the May Day, said that the payment of the new national minimum wage would take effect from May 1st. I am surprised if they have changed and I don’t know the parameter they used for the change. But it will be unfair for the government to do that taking cognizance of the socio-economic challenges,” he said.
