The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, has outlined seven main causes for rejecting the Federal Government’s proposed N70,000 transport allowance, insisting that staff want a permanent wage enhance relatively than non permanent monetary reduction.
The Secretary-General of TUC, Nuhu Toro, gave the explanations throughout an interview with TVC News on Wednesday.
He mentioned the Congress rejected the proposal as a result of it was a brief six-month intervention that may not present sustainable reduction to Nigerian staff.
“History has shown that no wage award in Nigeria is sustainable. As I speak to you today, there are MDAs, parastatals and government agencies that have not paid the wage award,” Toro mentioned.
He recalled that some authorities companies had been but to settle the N40,000 wage award launched in 2023, describing the state of affairs as proof that non permanent wage interventions may fail to profit staff.
The TUC secretary-general argued that the N70,000 ought to as a substitute be integrated into staff’ monthly salaries as half of their transport or housing allowances.
“Why don’t you embed it into the component of salary? Say, for instance, N70,000 is added to either transport or housing allowance of workers,” he mentioned.
According to him, incorporating the allowance into salaries may increase the worth of the present minimal wage to about N140,000 and provides staff a stronger place throughout subsequent minimal wage negotiations.
Toro additionally questioned what would occur when the six-month fee interval expired with out a new minimal wage settlement.
“What happens if between now and six months the new minimum wage does not set in? Are we going to say workers should stop earning it?” he requested.
Another motive for the rejection was the alleged exclusion of some public service unions from the negotiations that produced the allowance.
The union additionally cited excellent agreements with the Federal Government, together with commitments regarding judicial staff, as half of its broader demands.
Toro mentioned the Congress had introduced its demands to the federal government earlier than the N70,000 allowance was introduced and that discussions had been persevering with with a authorities delegation led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
He insisted that staff shouldn’t settle for a brief association in place of a permanent enchancment of their earnings.
“We insist that the N70,000 should be embedded into their salary preceding negotiation of the minimum wage,” he mentioned.
The TUC has additionally proposed a N300,000 wage for the lowest-paid employee.
