[BREAKING] Minimum wage: NLC, TUC set for joint NEC meeting (2024)

The Organised Labour, comprising the Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Labour Congress, will commence a joint extraordinary National Executive Council in a few moments.

A source within the leadership of the two Labour Centres made this known to our correspondent on Tuesday morning.

Also Read : NLC Stands Firm: Ready to defy FG’s threats, proceeds with planned protests

The outcome of the meeting will determine whether the strike by the organised Labour will continue or suspended following the agreement reached between the leadership of Labour and the Federal Government.

Theheute reports that after a six-hour meeting with the leadership of organised labour in Abuja, the Federal Government expressed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to raising the N60,000 offered as the minimum wage.

The agreement stated, “The President of Nigeria, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, is committed to establishing a National Minimum Wage higher than N60,000; and the Tripartite Committee will convene daily for the next week to finalise an agreeable National Minimum Wage.”

The organised labour also agreed to “immediately hold meetings of its organs to consider this new offer, and no worker would face victimisation as a consequence of participating in the industrial action.”

These resolutions were signed on behalf of the Federal Government by Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.

Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) has filed a lawsuit against one of its employees, Komolafe Oluwayomi, 45, accusing him of hacking into the bank’s system and stealing N9,989,000 for personal use.

Following a complaint by GTBank’s management, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Bar Beach division, Victoria Island, Lagos, ordered Oluwayomi’s arrest. The investigation, led by Inspector Patience Eguabor and team, resulted in Oluwayomi being charged before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

According to police counsel Ben Ekundayo, Oluwayomi committed the offense during working hours at GTBank’s Oyin Jolayemi Street branch in Victoria Island, Lagos. As the officer responsible for processing drivers’ retirement benefits, Oluwayomi allegedly included his friend’s name and account number in the retirement benefits payroll, transferring N9,989,000 to his friend’s account before moving the funds to his own GTBank account.

GTBank uncovered the fraud during an audit of the drivers’ retirement payroll accounts. Ekundayo stated that the offenses fall under sections 411 and 287(7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Oluwayomi pleaded not guilty to the charges. Magistrate M.A. Owunmi granted him N2 million bail with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case until June 11, 2024. Until his bail conditions are met, Oluwayomi will be detained at the Ikoyi correctional facility.

Gombe State Government will begin data capture of all Tsangaya Schools and Almajirai across the state, as part of the government’s effort to reform the Almajirai system of education and ascertain their number and states of origin.

Special Adviser to Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya on Tsangaya and Almajirai, Sayyada Aminatu, disclosed this in an interview with press.

Also read : Gombe State Government refuses to release salaries of workers over absenteeism

Aminatu said that her office would collaborate with the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, to register all the Almajirai in the state.

She said Identity Cards would be issued to them to enable their movement without being harassed.

She condemned the attitude of parents who abandoned their children in Tsangaya schools without proper arrangements, leaving them to fend for themselves.

She further said, “Everyone knows that the education system has changed, but these young children are seen roaming the streets and have become a nuisance at bus stops and other gatherings due to a lack of Western education.

“It is disheartening to notice almajirai spending the night in motor parks and markets. These young children have no means of survival due to the high cost of living.”

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has scheduled a crucial National Executive Council (NEC) meeting to discuss issues affecting members’ welfare.

The meeting, which would take place at ASUU Secretariat in Abuja, is expected to be attended by principal and national officers, zonal coordinators, and branch chairmen.

Also read : ASUU’s struggle beyond salaries, welfare only — Osodeke

Notifications have been sent out to those expected to attend.

According to the national officer, certain assignments given to the zonal coordinators and branch chairmen at the last meeting in Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, would be tabled for discussion by the NEC members.

Our source declined to state if the Federal Government had brought any new items to the negotiation table or taken decisions on outstanding issues that prompted the emergency NEC meeting.

“I am not aware of any new government positions on our demands. We have many outstanding demands that require the attention of the Federal Government. Several letters were written and no positive response.

“One thing that I can tell you is that our members are agitated over the withheld salaries, non-payment of the academic earned allowances, and other issues affecting public universities in the country, which the government has refused to address,” he stated.