Prince Peters Adeyemi is the General Secretary of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU. He is former Deputy President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC; Vice-President of Public Services International, PSI, Global; and President, PSI Africa and Arab Countries.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In this interview, he gives insight into ongoing Tripartite talks by the Organised Labour, (represented by the NLC and the TUC), the federal/state governments and the Organised Private Sector, OPS, to review the National Minimum Wage Act 2019. Prince Adeyemi also peeps into the minds of government and the private sector employers.
Minimum wage
To fully understand the complexities of these negotiations, it is essential to grasp the broader issues surrounding a National Minimum Wage. The overall objective of a nation’s National Minimum Wage is to ensure that workers receive a baseline level of income that can help them meet their basic needs, thereby reducing poverty and inequality. It aims to protect workers from exploitation by setting a legal floor for wages, ensuring fair compensation for their labour.
Additionally, a National Minimum Wage seeks to stimulate economic growth by increasing the purchasing power of low-income workers, which can lead to higher consumer spending and potentially drive demand for goods and services. This policy also serves to promote social justice and economic stability by fostering a more equitable distribution of income.
The National Minimum Wage Act is the legal framework and the cornerstone of wage regulation in Nigeria. The Act sets the ‘Minimum Wage’ that employers are legally required to pay their workers. The most recent amendment in 2019 set the minimum wage at N30, 000 per month.
The setting of a minimum wage takes into account various economic factors including inflation, cost of living, and the overall economic conditions of the country. A balanced approach aims to protect workers’ purchasing power while considering the financial capacity of employers.
The review process involves multiple stakeholders including labour unions, which advocate for higher wages to benefit workers; the federal and state governments, which aim to balance economic stability and social welfare; and employers in the organised private sector, who are concerned about the impact of wage increases on business sustainability and competitiveness.
The Minimum Wage is subject to periodic reviews to ensure it remains relevant and reflective of current economic realities. These reviews typically involve negotiations and consultations among the government, employers, and labour unions to reach a consensus on a new wage rate.
Enforcement mechanisms
Effective enforcement mechanisms are crucial to ensure that employers adhere to the stipulated minimum wage. This includes inspections by Labour Officers, legal recourse for workers, and penalties for non-compliance.
Understanding these issues provides a comprehensive view of the National Minimum Wage’s role in Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape and the complexities involved in its periodic review and adjustment.
The current National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act, 2019 increased the minimum wage from N18, 000 to N30, 000 per month. It was signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari on 18thApril, 2019. The Act applies to all workers in both the private and public sectors with the exception of establishments employing fewer than 25 workers, workers on a part-time basis, seasonal workers, and workers in apprenticeships.
Understanding labour union’s perspectives is crucial in the ongoing negotiations as it highlights the fundamental issues at stake for workers and underscores the need for a fair deal for workers.
When the last review of the National Minimum Wage was carried out in 2019, the inflation rate in Nigeria stood at 11.40 per cent. Currently, the inflation rate has surged significantly reaching 33.69 per cent. This stark increase underscores the pressing need for the ongoing negotiations to address the substantial rise in the cost of living and its impact on workers’ purchasing power. Labour unions are particularly focused on ensuring that any new Minimum Wage agreement adequately compensates for this steep inflation, thereby safeguarding workers’ welfare and economic stability.
It is important to draw attention to the fact that the 2019 review of the National Minimum Wage Act saw an increase from N18, 000 to N30, 000, representing a 66.67 per cent rise. In the current negotiations, the government is offering a review from N30, 000 to N48, 000, which constitutes a 60 per cent increase. This proposed increase must be considered in the context of the significant rise in inflation from 11.40 per cent in 2019 to 33.69 per cent currently, highlighting the challenges in ensuring that the new Minimum Wage adequately addresses the increased cost of living.
Lifestyle of political leaders
The lifestyle of political office holders, whether at the executive or legislative levels, federal or state, does not portray any situation less than a country of affluence. This disparity raises concerns among labour unions and the general public, as the contrast between the opulent lifestyles of political leaders and the economic hardships faced by ordinary citizens become starkly evident. This disconnect underscores the need for fair and equitable economic policies, including an appropriate review of the National Minimum Wage Act to address the realities faced by the broader population.
Hardly can state governors be found inside a commercial plane in Nigeria because they all move around in chartered jets. This practice further accentuates the stark contrast between the lifestyle of political office holders and the economic realities faced by ordinary Nigerians. Such disparities highlight the importance of ensuring that policies, including the review of the National Minimum Wage Act, are aligned with the pressing needs of the general population, rather than being out of touch with the daily struggles of average workers.
The staggering revelations of billions of naira stolen by some former state governors and the vast properties they acquired underscore a troubling reality: state governments are indeed capable of paying the National Minimum Wage. Instead, they opt to loot state resources for personal gain. This corruption highlights a gross misallocation of public funds that could otherwise improve the welfare of workers and contribute to the state’s development.
Private sector employers
For captains of industries, who are the employers in the organised private sector, their lifestyle is not different from those of their class colleagues holding political offices. Their primary interest lies in maximising profit to maintain their imperial lifestyle, often at the expense of workers’ welfare. This prioritisation of profit over fair compensation for employees further complicates the negotiations for a new National Minimum Wage as labour unions strive to secure a wage that reflects the true cost of living and ensures a decent standard of living for all workers.
The negotiations have therefore become an issue of “they and us,” focusing on how much can be released to the workers without depleting the resources required to maintain the majestic lifestyle of those in power and industry leadership. These adversarial dynamics underscore the broader struggle for economic justice, as workers seek a fair share of the nation’s wealth while political and business elites prioritise preserving their own affluent standards of living.
In the light of these dynamics, a deadlock in the negotiations for the review of the National Minimum Wage is therefore inevitable. The stark contrast between the affluent lifestyles of political and industry leaders and the economic hardships faced by ordinary workers creates a contentious environment. As workers push for fair compensation that reflects the current cost of living, and the elite aim to protect their resources and maintain their majestic lifestyles, reaching a consensus becomes exceedingly difficult.
During previous negotiations to review the National Minimum Wage, principal officials of the National Assembly often stepped in to mediate when talks reached a stalemate. Unfortunately, this vital mediation role is noticeably absent in the current negotiations. This situation is understandable, given that the National Assembly is currently burdened with its own issues, including mind-blowing salaries and allowances, constituency allowances and allegations of budget padding.
Effective enforcement mechanisms are crucial to ensuring that employers adhere to the stipulated Minimum Wage. This includes inspections by Labour Officers, legal recourse for workers, and penalties for non-compliance. Unfortunately, state governments are flouting the provisions of the National Minimum Wage Act, 2019 without facing any penalties. It is high time labour unions and the two Labour Centres adopted legal recourse on behalf of workers to address this non-compliance and ensure that workers receive their rightful wages.
The National Minimum Wage Act serves as a critical tool for protecting workers’ rights and ensuring fair compensation across Nigeria. It aims to improve the standard of living for workers, reduce poverty, and promote social justice. Therefore, the political ruling class and the bourgeoisie in the private sector, who belong to the same class, should not be under any illusion that the labour movement will sit quietly while they consign workers to poverty and destitution, while indulging in an opulent capitalist lifestyle.