The Federal Government has proposed a minimum wage exceeding N60,000, urging organized labor to consider the offer.
While the exact amount was not specified, the announcement was made following a meeting between government officials and representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) late Monday.
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The government representatives who signed the statement were Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, and Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State for Labour and Employment.
For the organized labor, the signatories included Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, and Festus Osifo, President of the TUC.
The statement released after the meeting read:
“Following the negotiations by the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and the subsequent withdrawal of labor from the negotiation process, the leadership of the National Assembly intervened on June 2, 2024. In response, the organized labor declared a nationwide strike on June 3, 2024, to press their demands.
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“In the interest of the nation, the Federal Government convened a meeting with labor representatives at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on June 3, with the aim of ending the strike.
“After extensive deliberations, the following resolutions were reached:
1. The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is committed to a national minimum wage higher than N60,000.
2. The Tripartite Committee will meet daily for the next week to finalize an agreeable national minimum wage.
3. In recognition of the President’s commitment, labor leaders will immediately convene a meeting with their members to consider this proposal.
4. No worker will face retaliation as a result of participating in the industrial action.
“This resolution was reached in Abuja on June 3, 2024.”
The meeting marked a significant step toward resolving the ongoing nationwide strike, which was initiated by the NLC and TUC to demand better wages and working conditions for Nigerian workers.
The proposed increase in the minimum wage aims to address the rising cost of living and improve the welfare of the workforce.
As the Tripartite Committee begins its daily meetings to finalize the new minimum wage, labor leaders are set to consult with their members to gauge their response to the government’s offer. The outcome of these consultations will likely influence the next steps in the negotiation process and the potential resolution of the strike.
Both the government and labor unions have expressed a commitment to reaching a mutually beneficial agreement that addresses the needs of workers while considering the economic realities of the nation.
