The Federal Government has convened an emergency meeting of the 28 labour unions in the country, to discuss the demand for a new minimum wage and other contending issues.
The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Kayode Adetokunbo announced this on Thursday at a public hearing jointly organised by the House of Representatives Committees on Inter Governmental Affairs and Labour and Productivity.
Mr. Adetokunbo denied claims that the government was insensitive to labour issues and demands, adding, however, that it was wrong for labour unions to issue threats at all times.
He said that the government was desirous of avoiding crisis which prompted it to enter into a tripartite agreement expected to resolve all areas of disagreement.
According to the minister, if labour took a unilateral action on the issue of minimum wage, it would amount to sacrificing “age-long tripartite agreement on the altar of expediency.”
He added that a standing Federal Government and Labour Relations Committee was also due for inauguration next week.
Mr. Adetokunbo promised that every outstanding issue would be trashed out, just as he recalled that the organised labour had been co-opted into the committee on the orders of President Umaru Yar’Ádua in his determination to ensure a cordial relationship between government and labour.
“The framework is already there but only needing consensus on all issues and not just the minimum wage issue. We want labour as partners and not as people who issue threats,” he said.
The minister dismissed speculations that the government was about to renege on previous agreements with the labour union, saying “government is not jettisoning anything but only trying to follow proper procedures.”
Earlier, the chairman of the joint committee, Leo Ogor, advised stakeholders to provide inputs to the Minimum Wage (Amendment) Bill 2008.