The ongoing negotiations on a new minimum wage have been adjourned until Wednesday after organized labour rejected the Federal Government’s revised offer of N54,000.
This development comes after a meeting on Tuesday, following a previous walkout by labour members over an initial proposal of N48,000.
Sources confirm that the Federal Government increased its offer from N48,000 to N54,000 in Tuesday’s meeting. Despite this, labour representatives deemed the offer insufficient, maintaining their demand for a N615,000 living wage.
A labour leader, who requested anonymity, criticised the government’s lack of commitment, noting the absence of state governors and the limited mandates of their representatives from Bauchi and Niger states. The private sector’s response to the wage proposal remains pending.
Organised labour, represented by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has set a deadline of May 31, 2024, for the implementation of the new minimum wage. NLC President Joe Ajaero emphasised the necessity of a N615,000 minimum wage, citing the current economic hardships faced by Nigerian families.
Ajaero blamed both the government and the Organised Private Sector (OPS) for the stalled negotiations. In a joint statement from the NLC and TUC, leaders Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo acknowledged ongoing discussions but stressed the urgency of a fair agreement that reflects the contributions of Nigerian workers and the economic realities they face.
President Bola Tinubu, through Vice President Kashim Shettima, had inaugurated a 37-member Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage on January 30, 2024. The committee, comprising members from federal and state governments, the private sector, and organized labour, was tasked with recommending a new national minimum wage before the current N30,000 wage’s expiration on April 18.
Shettima urged the committee to expedite its deliberations and submit its report promptly. To facilitate this, zonal public hearings were held on March 7 in Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, and Abuja, where various proposals for a living wage were presented.
The NLC and TUC put forth different figures at the hearings, reflecting regional economic conditions. South-West states demanded N794,000, the TUC suggested N447,000, and other regions proposed figures ranging from N485,000 to N850,000. Ultimately, organised labour settled on N615,000 as the target living wage.
As negotiations continue, the urgency for a resolution remains high, with organised labour committed to ensuring that workers’ interests and welfare are adequately protected in the process.
