As the nation marks 26 years of uninterrupted democratic process, the Director General of Micheal Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies ( MINILS) Ilorin has commended Tinubu administration for upholding the rights of citizens inclusive of organized labour to freely organize and bargain collectively despite the challenges economic crisis imposes on labour government relations in recent times .
In a statement to observe 26 years of interrupted Democracy and 2 years of Tinubu administration, Comrade Issa Aremu said notwithstanding policy contestations that have trailed reforms resulting in national strikes in some instances, President Tinubu administration has commendably respected the provisions of ILO conventions with respect to freedom of associations and assembly without intimidation of the trade unions in the face of what he called “avoidable and preventable” national strikes.
The Director General said 26years of democratic governance has produced 4 national minimum wages since 1999 which hitherto were denied during the past discredited military dictatorships.
Comrade Aremu therefore hailed organized labour, employers of labour and the Federal government for negotiating in good faith on the 6th national minimum wage in 2024. He said the most historic of the interventions in the last two years is the enactment of 2024 National Minimum Wage Act of N70,000 after an intense 6 month long tripartite (plus) collective bargaining process between the government, organized labour and employers of labour. Aremu salutes the 10th National Assembly, President Bola Tinubu and Honourable Minister of Labour Nkeiruka Onyejeocha for the speedy enactment of the 6th National minimum wage Act which has a 3 year cycle compared to the old 5 year drag.
AREMU said MINILS is ready to partner with the tripartite stakeholders as the nation prepares for a new minimum wage in 2027. He commended the state governors and private employers who have paid the minimum wage backed by law while calling on Organized labour to put legitimate pressures on States and employers who refuse to pay the legally “permissible least wage precisely because It is illegal”. AREMU advised that organized labour should continue the engagement through social dialogue and collective bargaining with the government on how to a have wage-job- led economic growth but added that Minimum and living wage should be complimented by its minimum productivity and minimum discipline in the public service.
Director General said to consolidate on the gains of the last two years all the agencies of Government at all levels should support and diligently implement the recently approved Renewed Hope Nigeria First Policy initiative of President Bola Tinubu GCFR.
The Renewed Hope Nigeria First Policy initiative by President Bola Tinubu aimed at placing Nigerians at the heart of all business and economic activities, adding that “Renewed Hope Nigeria First Policy” which prioritizes buying of Nigeria’s goods and services would accelerate the realization of Sustainable Development Goal 8 dealing with Decent work and economic growth.