NECA Calls for Employers in Nigeria Wage Talks

The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association is calling for employers to join government and organised labour in negotiations on a new national minimum wage, while saying it accepts that the wage may be reviewed. NECA Director-General Adewale-Smat Oyerinde said wage-setting should follow a tripartite process involving all three groups. The association argues that discussions between government and labour alone cannot replace that process, and that employers should not be treated as parties to agreements reached without their participation and concurrence. Oyerinde also said employers must comply with a minimum wage lawfully established under the National Minimum Wage Act. NECA’s position is that its objection to being excluded from negotiations does not remove that legal obligation. The association said decisions should consider workers’ welfare and purchasing power alongside employers’ ability to pay, business viability, productivity and employment. It cited high energy costs, inflation, expensive financing and other operating pressures facing Nigerian businesses. NECA warned that work stoppages linked to wage discussions could affect business recovery, job security and...