Labour Rejects Call For State-Level Minimum Wage Negotiations

Organized labor opposes Southern Governors’ Forum proposal to allow states to negotiate minimum wages independently.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the organized labour, including the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, has rejected the proposal by the Southern Governors’ Forum to decentralize minimum wage negotiations to state governments.

The NLC criticized the proposal as “unfriendly and anti-worker,” arguing that allowing states to set their own minimum wages would harm workers’ welfare.

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On Friday, it was reported that the Southern Governors’ Forum advocated for states to independently negotiate minimum wages, emphasizing that wages should reflect the local cost of living.

Following a meeting at the Ogun State Presidential Lodge in Abeokuta on Monday, the forum issued a communique signed by Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, the newly-appointed Chairman, and Vice-Chairman Prof Charles Soludo of Anambra State.

Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Godwin Obaseki of Edo, Hope Uzodinma of Imo, Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti, Duoye Diri of Bayelsa, Ademola Adeleke of Osun, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, and Bassey Otu of Cross River attended the meeting.

Also present were Governors Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo, Peter Mbah of Enugu, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, and Alex Otti of Abia State.