The Federal Government has expressed its willingness to offer a new national minimum wage higher than the previously proposed N60,000, urging organized labour to consider the offer. The specific amount was not disclosed.
This development followed a crucial meeting held on Monday between government representatives and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
In a joint statement, Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, and Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, represented the Federal Government. On behalf of organized labour, Joe Ajaero, President of NLC, and Festus Osifo, President of TUC, signed the statement.
The statement detailed the progress made during the negotiations: “Further to the negotiation by the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage (NMW) and subsequent withdrawal of Labour from negotiation, the Leadership of the National Assembly intervened on 2nd June, 2024. The Organised Labour declared a nationwide strike on Monday, 3rd June, 2024, to drive home its demands.”
It continued, “The Federal Government, in the national interest, convened a meeting with Labour held in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Monday, 3rd June, with a view to ending the strike action. After exhaustive deliberation and engagement by both parties, the following resolutions were reached: The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, is committed to a National Minimum Wage that is higher than N60,000.”
To facilitate a timely resolution, the statement added, “The Tripartite Committee is to meet every day for the next one week with a view to arriving at an agreeable National Minimum Wage. Labour, in deference to the high esteem of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria’s commitment, undertakes to convene a meeting of its organs immediately to consider this commitment. No worker would be victimized as a result of the industrial action.”
