Labour, govt clash over minimum wage

Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Ekiti State may begin an indefinite strike today over the non payment of the new minimum wage.

Talks between the state government and the Joint Consultative Committee of the organised labour appear to have reached a deadlock.

In a circular jointly issued on Friday by the NLC and TUC chairmen, Chief Ojo Arogundade and Mr Kolawole Olaiya, workers were ordered to proceed on an indefinite strike, until the matter was resolved.

The Labour leaders had earlier settled for N13,000 with the state government as the minimum wage, but the knotty aspect remains when the payment would be effected.

It was learnt that the state government is insisting that the payment takes off in June, while labour wants it to begin in April.

Arogundade told reporters yesterday that the strike will start today.

He said the labour unions were considerate of the insufficient finances of the state and settled for N13,000 instead of N18,000.

Olaiya said: “We expect the state government to have commenced payment, having shown enough sympathy by accepting the N13,000 proposed by the government. Why should government be foot-dragging on its payment?

“We are not going to accept the commencement of the payment in June.The payment should commence immediately.

“Ekiti workers cannot be taken for a ride. But it must be known that the labour leaders will not run away from further negotiations on the matter.”

Head of Service Olubunmi Famosaya assured the workers of the government’s commitment to their welfare. He said the matter would be resolved soon.