• Raises fresh alarm over unpaid wage awards, anti-union practices
• Reviews minimum wage, telecom tariff cut, labour law reforms
By Victor Ahiuma-Young
ABUJA – Details have emerged of a closed-door meeting between the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and top officials of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, with indications that organised labour confronted the Federal Government over alleged labour rights violations, outstanding agreements and other contentious issues that recently put Nigeria under international scrutiny.
The meeting which was held on Tuesday, presided over by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammadu Dingyadi, and NLC President, Joe Ajaero, was convened, it was gathered, against the backdrop of the recent International Labour Conference, ILC, in Geneva, Switzerland, where Nigeria reportedly came under intense scrutiny over alleged breaches of international labour standards.
It will be recalled that Nigeria is expected to report back to the International Labour Organisation, ILO, by September on measures taken to address concerns raised before the Committee for the Application of Standards, CAS.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Director of Trade Union Services, the Director of Standards and other senior government officials were also said to have attended the meeting.
Information available to Vanguard from officials familiar with the deliberations indicates that the alleged interference by government in trade union affairs dominated the discussions.
According to insiders, organised labour reminded government representatives that the issue was one of the major concerns raised against Nigeria during the ILC and warned that concrete steps would be required before the country’s next engagement with the ILO.
It was further learnt that both parties revisited the question of collective bargaining, with labour expressing concern over what it considers the slow implementation of agreements freely entered into between government and workers’ representatives.
Multiple sources also disclosed that the NLC reminded the government of several commitments that have remained outstanding, including the agreement reached more than two years ago on a 15 per cent reduction in telecommunications tariffs, which, according to labour, has yet to be implemented.
The incomplete implementation of the wage award introduced after the removal of fuel subsidy also reportedly came under fresh scrutiny.
Those briefed on the meeting said labour leaders expressed dissatisfaction over the continued delay in fully implementing the wage award meant to cushion the economic hardship facing federal workers.
Similarly, the implementation of the N70,000 national minimum wage featured prominently during the meeting.
Vanguard gathered that labour complained that although the minimum wage has been fully implemented at the federal level, compliance by some state governments remains far from satisfactory, a development that continues to generate concern within organised labour.
Sources further hinted that preliminary discussions were also held on the next round of national minimum wage negotiations, with both parties acknowledging the need to begin consultations early.
The meeting was also said to have examined internal challenges within the labour movement, including the lingering leadership crisis in the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, and developments in the Edo State Council of the NLC.
According to those familiar with the discussions, labour representatives linked some of the disputes to what they perceive as undue interference in the affairs of trade unions, an issue they insisted must be addressed in line with international labour conventions.
Other matters reportedly tabled included the ongoing review of Nigeria’s labour laws and plans to revive the National Labour Advisory Council, NLAC, which has remained largely inactive despite its importance in promoting tripartite dialogue among government, employers and organised labour.
Although discussions were said to have been frank and, at some points, robust, information available to Vanguard indicates that both sides agreed to sustain engagement and deepen cooperation in resolving outstanding labour issues in the interest of industrial harmony and national development.
Neither the Ministry of Labour and Employment nor the NLC had issued an official statement on the outcome of the meeting as of the time of filing this report.
