PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the Organised Labour are in last-minute talks over a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero; and his counterpart at the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, are present at the State House in Abuja.
Thursday’s meeting is one in a series of talks between labour leaders and the President.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, had on Monday said the President will meet with the Labour leaders “to finalise their thoughts and then he will make his informed decision known to Nigerians by also sending it to the National Assembly”.
He had said the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, has been directed to come up with a proposal for an Amendment Act to the 2024 Appropriation Act to be sent to the National Assembly.
Last Thursday, the President met with labour leaders and called for realistic expectations as regards minimum wage. “You have to cut your coat according to available cloth. Before we can finalise the minimum wage process, we have to look at the structure,” Tinubu had said.
The President is expected to make a decision on the ₦62,000 proposal of the government and private sector side; as well as the ₦250,000 demand of the Organised Labour. The current minimum wage is ₦30,000.
The meeting is coming about a month after the President said in his Democracy Day speech on June 12, 2024, that an executive bill on the new national minimum wage for workers would soon be sent to the National Assembly for passage.
On June 25, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) chaired by the President stepped down from consideration and deliberation on the memo on the new minimum wage to allow for more engagement with stakeholders.
Two days after, Tinubu and Vice President Kassim Shettima, at the 141st meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC), met with governors of the 36 states of the Federation and ministers to deliberate on a new minimum wage for workers.
