President Bola Tinubu on Thursday approved a new national minimum wage of N70,000 for Nigerian workers. This decision, announced by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, was made during a meeting with the leadership of the Organized Labour in Abuja.
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, explained the reasons behind the Organized Labour’s acceptance of the proposal.
Ajaero highlighted that the unions agreed to the offer due to the additional incentives attached and the president’s promise of a wage review every three years, a significant change from the previous arrangement.
“The President promised a review every three years as against what has been obtained in the past,” Ajaero stated to State House reporters after the meeting.
The newly approved minimum wage is set to replace the current N30,000 minimum wage, which expired on April 18, 2024. The proposal will be submitted to the National Assembly for approval.
Bayo Onanuga, via his official X handle, @aonanuga, posted at 03:31 pm: “Breaking: President Bola Tinubu has approved N70,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers with a promise to review the national minimum wage law every three years. President Tinubu also promised to find ways to assist the private sector and the sub-nationals in paying the minimum wage.”
During the meeting, President Tinubu also addressed other demands from labour unions, including the unpaid four months’ salaries of university staff. The Labour leaders expressed their gratitude, commending President Tinubu for his considerate and fatherly approach.
This meeting marks the second in a series of engagements between President Tinubu and the Labour leaders within the past week.
