The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) has
explained why its members could not pay the proposed national minimum wage.
Its Director-General, Mr Olusegun Oshinowo, said at a
briefing in Lagos that they could not pay because of the recession which has effected their members’ businesses.
He said the association
would canvass this position at the National Minimum Wage Committee
meeting.
He maintained that all stakeholders should join hands with
the government to ensure job security and job creation.
He said: “There was,
indeed, an understanding that the National Minimum Wage would be due for
discussion after five years and the demand for pay rise by the Nigeria Labour
Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria(TUC) was legitimate.
He, however, said there was a procedure for the discussion
of the National Minimum Wage, which entailed the setting up of a National
Minimum Wage Committee comprising representatives of the Federal Government,
led by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, state
governments, usually represented by three
governors, NECA and organised labour as represented by NLC and TUC.
He emphasised that it was the responsibility of the
committee to sort out the issue of review or maintain the status quo, adding
that upward review was inappropriate.
He debunked claims in some quarters that opening discussions
on the minimum wage would translate into unsustainable wage increase.
He added: “The beauty of collective bargaining is the
opportunity to come to the table with constructive positions and submissions.
The principle of reasonableness and superior arguments has always carried the
day. Conclusions at the platform would not necessarily be for or against
increase. It would be to examine the need for or against and justifications for
whatever positions are canvassed.”
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