Trade Union of Nigeria (TUC), Oyo State Council has reacted to the composition of the Minimum Wage negotiation committee allegedly constituted by Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration.
This was made known in a statement signed by Comrade Bosun Olabiyi, who is the Chairman of the Union and Comrade Babatunde Balogun, the state secretary of the labour centre.
They stated categorically and emphatically that the rejection was due to the insistence of the representative of the government to choose and impose a representative for them.
According to the statement, it was noted that the constitution of the committee negates the basic principle of negotiation and rules of engagement.
The Union hinted that it’s not officially informed about the setting up of the committee and date for the commencement of Minimum Wage negotiation in the state.
“We the Trade Union of Nigeria, Oyo State Council has rejected the composition of the minimum wage negotiation committee in Oyo State due to insistence of the representative of government to choose and impose our representative for us.
“We believe this negates the basic principle of negotiation and rules of engagement.
“We were informed through Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), one of our affiliate Unions of a letter in circulation about a setting up of a committee and a date for the commencement of Minimum Wage negotiation in the state.
“TUC, the Umbrella body and a major stakeholder in the exercise wishes to make it very clear that we do not know anything about any committee and we believe we will be consulted properly concerning our representation in the Committee before negotiation commences.
After exhaustive efforts to correct this anomaly proved abortive, the TUC writes to inform her members as well as the good people of Oyo State that we are ready to negotiate but this will be consequent upon setting the right foundation to this crucial exercise,” the statement said.
REPORTERS AT LARGE earlier reported that Governor Makinde declared that his administration will commence the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage once the issue of consequential salary adjustment has been addressed.
This was as the governor announced the extension of the N25,000 wage award to workers and N15,000 wage award to pensioners by another three months.
