The Nigeria Labour Congress has called upon the National Assembly in Abuja to collaborate with the tripartite committee on the new minimum wage, emphasizing the need for mechanisms to regularly review wage levels to keep pace with inflation and the cost of living.
President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, delivered this message during a national retreat on ‘Labour reforms and the quest for a living wage in Nigeria: A focus on legislative interventions’, hosted by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies.
Ajaero urged lawmakers to update labour laws to reflect current economic realities, ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and protection against unfair labour practices.
He urged the National Assembly to support the transmission of a bill on reviewed labour administration laws, previously approved by the tripartite process but held back by the executive.
He called for enhanced social security systems to provide workers with safety nets during economic challenges, unemployment, or health crises.
Ajaero also advocated for legislation promoting effective social dialogue among government, employers, and labour unions to ensure balanced policies that meet all stakeholders’ needs.
Furthermore, Ajaero emphasized the importance of laws supporting continuous investment in education and vocational training to equip the workforce with skills essential for success in a dynamic job market.
”This includes ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and protection against unfair labour practices. We call on the National Assembly to join us in calling on the executive to transmit to the Assembly the bill on the reviewed labour administration laws which had gone through the tripartite process some years back but seemed to have been impounded by the executive.
“NASS should work with the tripartite to establish mechanisms for regular and systematic review of wage levels to ensure they keep pace with inflation and the cost of living.
”Workers are not beggars neither are they slaves. We create wealth and we deserve a healthy portion of it. The present angst in the country can only be assuaged by reasonable income to Nigerian people and workers.
“Our lawmakers should lay more focus on strengthening social security systems to provide a safety net for workers during times of economic hardship, unemployment, or health emergencies.
”Seek ways to make laws for effective social dialogue which will foster an inclusive dialogue between the government, employers, and labour unions to ensure policies are balanced, fair, and effectively address the needs of all stakeholders.
“The legislature should make laws that encourages continuous investment in education and vocational training to equip our workforce with the skills needed to thrive in a dynamic and evolving job market,” Ajaero said.
