President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has emphasized the need for improved welfare, better wages, and enhanced working conditions for Nigerian workers, recognizing them as the driving force of the nation.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday with leaders from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), President Tinubu called for realistic expectations regarding wage adjustments.
During his meeting with Comrade Joe Ajaero of the NLC and Comrade Festus Osifo of the TUC, President Tinubu expressed his concern for the welfare of Nigerian workers, highlighting his administration’s commitment to prioritizing their needs.
He stated, “A happy worker is a productive worker. And society depends on the productivity of the happy worker.”
However, President Tinubu urged for a pragmatic approach to the minimum wage issue, questioning the current frequency of wage adjustments.
“Why must we adjust wages every five years? Why not two? Why not three years? What is a problem today can be eased tomorrow,” he said. He emphasized the need for a dynamic, non-myopic approach, considering all factors to arrive at a sustainable solution.
NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero stressed the necessity of an upward adjustment to the minimum wage, noting the hardships faced by Nigerian workers.
He also praised the President for the recent Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy, which the NLC had long advocated for. “Now that there is light at the end of the tunnel, it would be ungrateful if we fail to commend you,” Ajaero said.
TUC President Comrade Festus Osifo highlighted the adverse impact of inflation on the naira’s value, urging the government to expedite measures to alleviate the rising costs of food and transportation.
He welcomed the rollout of Compressed Natural Gas-powered buses as a means to reduce transportation costs and supported the recent directive to suspend duties on certain food imports to lower food prices.
President Tinubu reiterated the need for a realistic approach to wage adjustments, stating, “You have to cut your coat according to available cloth. Before we can finalize the minimum wage process, we have to look at the structure.”
He called for a surgical, pragmatic approach to address these issues effectively.
