The Organised Labour has once again rejected a new minimum wage proposal from the Federal Government. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), which comprise the Organised Labour, have turned down the government’s offer to set the new minimum wage for workers at ₦60,000.
In a recent development, the Organised Labour has adjusted its previous demand of ₦497,000 to ₦494,000.
According to a member of the Tripartite Committee negotiating the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers, the Federal Government and the Organised Private Sector (OPS) proposed a ₦60,000 monthly minimum wage during their latest meeting. This is an increase from the ₦57,000 they proposed in the previous meeting.
Initially, the government and the OPS had suggested minimum wages of ₦48,000 and ₦54,000 last week, but these figures were also rejected by the Organised Labour.
Originally, the Organised Labour had demanded ₦615,000 as the new minimum wage but reduced this figure to ₦497,000 last week and then to ₦494,000 in the most recent negotiations.
Despite the ongoing discussions, today’s meeting ended in a deadlock, with no agreement reached on the new minimum wage. The Tripartite Committee is yet to finalize a new minimum wage agreement, just three days before the May 31 deadline set by the labour unions for the government to conclude the negotiations.
The labour unions argue that the current minimum wage of ₦30,000 is insufficient to support the average Nigerian worker.
They also pointed out that not all state governors are adhering to the current wage award, which expired in April 2024, five years after the Minimum Wage Act of 2019 was signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Act mandates a review every five years to align with the contemporary economic needs of workers.
NLC President Joe Ajaero criticized the government’s recent proposals, calling them “unsubstantial” and inadequate for supporting a family.
He emphasized the dire economic situation of workers, noting that their economic well-being has been severely compromised.
Ajaero highlighted the disparity between the economy of the wealthy and the economy of the workers, calling for harmonization to find a common ground.
