Fidelia Okafor.

The review of the national minimum wage for Nigerian workers is in progress.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige said this while speaking to Journalists at the end of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council on Wednesday.

“We have cooperation from most of the unions, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union congress. They are giving us maximum cooperation. On the minimum wage issue, we have a technical committee, comprising representatives of government and we would soon finish our work,’’ Dr Ngige said.

According to him, “government is aware of the hardship the workers are going through and its working hard to alleviate that.’’

Caution on strike
The Minister, however, cautioned Labour Unions against embarking on warning strikes, saying “industrial laws do not permit it.’’

“Recently we have had warnings from the National Association of Resident Doctors, Nigeria Medical Association, Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities ASSU and the Non Academic Staff Union of Universities and many more.  We are discussing with them but we want to appeal to them that there is nothing like warning strike. A strike is a strike and you cannot get anything through threats. Warning strikes as far as government is concerned, are threats…….there is nothing more powerful than negotiation, government and labour laws have made provisions for social dialogue and collective bargaining not threats,” he explained.

Dr Ngige added that government was handling the issue of industrial relations the best way it could, to ensure smooth operations and industrial harmony.

Source: Government