The Nigeria labour congress and the Nigeria governors’ forum have strongly disagreed over specific salary adjustments being sought by workers on the new national minimum wage.
NLC, in a letter to its state councils, said there is no going back on its demand for the consequential adjustment of salaries as a result of the new minimum wage.The congress, then directed its state councils to prepare for a nationwide strike starting from Wednesday this week.
But the chairman of the Nigeria governors’ forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, said if the workers should embark on any strike it would be an exercise in futility as the country could not meet the specific demands of the organised labour on consequential adjustments of salaries.
Dr. Fayemi stated this while speaking with journalists in Lagos.
He called on workers to take into consideration, the country’s economic situation before embarking on industrial action.
Meanwhile, after the first edition of the negotiations has collapsed due to percentage differences between the two parties, the federal government negotiating team and the joint national public service negotiating council will meet again tomorrow for another negotiation which will tell maybe strike will begin on Wednesday or not.
Labour is demanding 29 percent salary increase for officers on salary grade level 07 to 14 and 24 percent adjustment for officers on salary grade level 15 to 17. While, the federal government insisted on 11 percent salary increase for officers on grade level 07 to 14 and 6.5 percent adjustment for workers on grade 15 to 17.