Report has it that the organised labour is set to begin discussions with state governments on the implementation process for the new minimum wage for workers in respective states in relation with the recent agreement reached with the Federal Government on the consequential adjustments.
In line with this, the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, which negotiated the consequential adjustments arising from the new minimum wage of N30,000 with the FG revealed on Tuesday that it had written to the state governments on the issue and directed the representatives of the workers’ unions to commence the negotiations.
The Secretary of the JNPSNC, Alade Lawal, said a draft of the letter to be sent to state governments was ready.
Alade, who spoke with journalists in Abuja after a meeting with the joint negotiating councils from all the 36 states of the federation, said although labour had yet to receive a circular from the Federal Government through the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, the council had improvised a replica suitable for the state councils to work within their negotiations.
He said, “Negotiations with state governments start anytime from today. We have agreed that the joint national negotiating council should send letters to state governments which will be sent tomorrow (today). The draft for the letter is ready.
“We will first send it to our members’ email addresses in the states and then send the hard copy to the state governments. Negotiations start immediately after the receipt of the letter.”
According to the council secretary, the agreement with the FG is the minimum that all state negotiations must achieve, stressing that in some states where pay package is poor, percentage increase will be higher than what was agreed with the FG.
Alade said, “We are hopeful that by December 31, all negotiations should be wrapped up. In areas where we have difficulties, we have decided to move in as a group to shut down the state towards ensuring that implementation is done.
“The agreement we had with the FG is the minimum for the states. Some will go beyond it but no one will go below it.”
Also at the meeting, the JNPSNC gave major documents to the state councils that should guide them, with December 31, 2019 set for completion of all negotiations.
