The Director General, Michael Imoudu, National Institute of Labour Studies (MINILS) Ilorin, Comrade Issa Aremu, says both organised labour and the federal government are encouraged to work together promptly and effectively to enforce the 15-point agreement from October 2nd, 2023.
While speaking in Lagos State over the weekend, he said this call aims to avoid unnecessary disputes and demonstrations regarding the escalating cost of living.
In his tribute to the late AIT ace television labour editor, Rosemary Wilkey, on Thursday, the Director General said the best response to the current economic crisis is an “urgent and conclusive implementation” of last year’s 15-point agreement dealing with wage improvement, CNG bus provisioning for mass affordable transportation and revival of local petroleum refineries, among other measures.
Comrade Aremu observed that while organised labour must necessarily organise and convey the feelings of Nigerians at times of high inflation, sustainable solutions lie in improved pay for workers, mass decent employment for the jobless and revival of industrial production, as contained in the 15-point Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) after the threat of strike following the controversial removal of fuel subsidy last year.
He commended both the federal government and organised labour for having a far-reaching understanding through dialogue and advised that it was time for conclusive implementation rather than protest.
The Director General agreed with the minister of state for labour and employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, that there has been substantial implementation of the agreement concerning the payment of the agreed N35,000 wage award for federal employees. The inauguration of the 2024 tripartite committee to review the minimum wage has been inaugurated with the commencement of negotiations.
Earlier, Comrade Aremu, in his tribute to the late AIT labour editor, Rosemary Wikley entitled “Blessed is the Dead,” said it was time to change the narrative of Nigeria’s labour market from what he called “crisis of compensation through low or no pay” to one of prompt respect for collective agreements, improved productivity, income equity and prosperity for Nigeria.
He described the late Rosemary Oritsemohogbone Wilkey “as one of the best engaging labour reporters to come from Africa.”
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