Just In: Governor Abdulrahman withdraws from minimum wage discussion, NLC, TUC prepares for showdown
• State to punish workers by not signing minimum wage payment over LG election outcome
• Government reps abandon joint negotiation council, fails to sign agreement into effect since September 27th, 2024
Following the outcome of the NLC/TUC/JNC SEC/SAC Meeting on Minimum Wage Consequential Adjustment held on 7th October, 2024; at Labour House in Ilorin, the Unions have threatened a showdown with the Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq over the abandonment and indefinite suspension of negotiation by the State Government.
According to sources, Government representatives have not been coming to meetings with the Unions, and seems to have withdrawn completely from the discussion on minimum wage indefinitely. With leaders from labour circles failing to reach the government on returning to the negotiation table.
In the meeting held at the Labour House, the Joint Negotiation Council (JNC) resolved to give an ultimatum of three days to government to return to the negotiation table, with threats to go on rampage and do what the State Government will not like.
The Labour and Trade unions expressed disappointment over the manner in which the State Government that postures as a welfarist is handling the welfare of workers in the State; despite the tough economy where everyone is struggling to survive. The Government has failed to sign the table that was agreed with the Unions. Kwara State Government was expected to have signed the wage into effect from 27th of September, 2024. However, since that point, the government abandoned the meeting with unsuccessful attempt to get them to return to the negotiation table.
Workers in the State are now puzzled why the State government doubled the State’s budget for 2024; if minimum wage payment was not part of the plan. Some sources claim suspicion that the State Governor may be punishing the labour force for voting opposition during the local council elections, as workers formed part of the base that sent a strong message across via their votes.
It is also rumoured that the minimum wage may be postponed till 2026, as a form of delay tactics to ensure workers fall in line.
*Sulaiman Agbabiaka*