THE Federal Government has agreed to pay more than the N60,000 it initially proposed as new minimum wage.
The decision was taken at a meeting the government had with labour leaders on Monday night in Abuja to address the dispute over the national minimum wage in response to the nationwide strike declared by the organised labour..
The meeting, held in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, on Monday evening aimed to resolve the impasse and bring an end to the industrial action that had paralysed various sectors across the country.
At the end of the meeting, it was resolved that, “The President of Nigeria, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, committed to establishing a National Minimum Wage higher than N60,000; and the Tripartite Committee will convene daily for the next week to finalise an agreeable National Minimum Wage.”
Other resolutions were; “In recognition of the President’s commitment, the organised labour would immediately hold meetings of its organs to consider this new offer; and no worker would face victimisation as a consequence of participating in the industrial action.”
These resolutions were signed on behalf of the Federal Government by Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
Representing the organised labour were the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, and the President of the Trade Union Congress, Festus Osifo.
The NLC on Friday declared a nationwide indefinite strike starting at midnight on Sunday, June 2, 2024, due to the Federal Government’s refusal to increase the proposed minimum wage above N60,000.
Ajaero announced the strike following failed negotiations between the government and organised labour.
