Bamgbose Betty, former Treasurer of the National Labour Congress (NLC) and current Chairman of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, has called on the Senate to align their salaries with the minimum wage to better understand the challenges faced by labour unions.
During an interview on Monday amidst the ongoing national strike organized by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Betty voiced her frustration with the government’s handling of minimum wage negotiations.
Speaking at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital laboratory, Betty criticized the federal government’s approach to wage discussions.
“The NLC and the TUC have been in lengthy deliberations with the government. They keep proposing incremental amounts—200 today, 300 tomorrow, 500 the next day. It’s enough. Enough is enough,” she stated.
Betty suggested that high-ranking officials, including Senators, should have their salaries pegged to the proposed minimum wage. “For them to know where it pains us, let the senate, whatever, put their salary on this minimum wage too and let’s see what will happen. I mean, let it go round,” she said.
Highlighting the financial struggles of workers, Betty lamented, “Within two to three days of being paid, the salary is gone. The suffering is too much.”
Despite the strike, Betty acknowledged that essential medical and health services continued to operate. “As my chairman mentioned, we are maintaining our essential duties, but all other workers should please go home,” she concluded.
On Friday, organized labor announced the commencement of a nationwide indefinite strike in response to the Federal Government’s refusal to raise the proposed minimum wage from N60,000.
Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), stated that the strike will begin at midnight on Sunday, June 2, 2024.
In a joint statement with Trade Union Congress (TUC) President Festus Osifo, Ajaero expressed serious concerns and disappointment over the Federal Government’s failure to finalize and pass a new National Minimum Wage Act into law.
The unions also demanded the reversal of the electricity tariff hike to N65/kWh.
Previously, both unions had issued an ultimatum for negotiations on the new minimum wage to be concluded by May 31, 2024.
However, talks between organized labour and the Federal Government broke down on Tuesday after both parties presented their offers.
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