By JOAN NWAGWU

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has rejected bilateral negotiations on the national minimum wage, insisting on an inclusive tripartite process involving government, employers and workers.

The association’s Director-General, Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, stated this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja.

Oyerinde urged stakeholders against treating the National Minimum Wage (NMW) as an automatic, across-the-board salary increase, describing it as a statutory wage floor for covered workers.

He acknowledged workers’ concerns over rising living costs and declining purchasing power but maintained that employers must participate fully in minimum wage negotiations.

“While NECA respects the right of the Government and Organised Labour to hold bilateral discussions, such engagements cannot substitute for the statutory tripartite process,” he said.

Oyerinde said employers could not be bound by agreements reached without their participation and concurrence, although they remained obligated to comply with minimum wage laws validly established.

He said NECA was not opposed to reviewing the minimum wage but insisted that negotiations must be inclusive, transparent, evidence-based and consistent with International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards.

“Consequently, any credible minimum wage determination must take into account the cost of living, workers’ welfare, productivity, enterprise sustainability and ability to pay,” he said.

He added that employment generation, job retention, prevailing economic conditions, high energy costs, inflation and expensive access to funds must also inform wage decisions.

Oyerinde cited ILO Convention No. 131, Recommendation No. 135 and Convention No. 144 as instruments supporting consultation and social dialogue in wage determination.

He explained that consequential salary adjustments and general wage increases differed from the statutory minimum wage and should be addressed through collective bargaining, contractual arrangements and enterprise-level negotiations.

The NECA director-general also expressed concern over threats of industrial disruption, warning that avoidable work stoppages could undermine business recovery, job security and investor confidence.

He said small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were particularly vulnerable to disruptions amid prevailing economic pressures and efforts to sustain productive activities.

“We, therefore, call for constructive social dialogue, mutual respect and the use of established lawful dispute-resolution mechanisms to preserve industrial harmony,” he said.

Oyerinde urged the Federal Government and other social partners to uphold tripartism and relevant ILO standards when formal minimum wage negotiations commenced.

He said the outcome should balance workers’ welfare with productivity, enterprise sustainability, employment considerations and prevailing national economic conditions.

“We firmly believe that workers’ welfare and business survival are complementary objectives that must be pursued concurrently in the interest of national development,” he said.

He reaffirmed NECA’s commitment to decent work, fair remuneration, sustainable enterprises and productive employment, stressing that a fair minimum wage should protect workers, preserve jobs and support economic growth. (NAN)