The Federal Government has proposed the sum of N62,000 as the new national minimum wage to organized labor unions.
However, the labor unions have rejected this amount, insisting on N250,000 as the new minimum wage.
This figure was proposed by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, who revealed the minimum wage template earlier submitted to President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, June 6, 2024, during a tripartite committee meeting.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu had mandated Edun to come up with a realistic minimum wage offer within the one-week window issued by organized labour.
The proposed N62,000 figure represents a N2,000 increase from the N60,000 earlier rejected by organized labour.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, said, “The meeting is going very well, we are almost there and we are just about to sign our report.
“The committee has worked so hard and has reached an agreement, the tripartite committee is made up of three parties, the government, the Organised Private Sector (OPS) and Organised Labour.
“In the wisdom of the committee, we have put together a recommendation that will be forwarded to Mr. President for further action.
“The Organised Private Sector and government have agreed on a figure of N62,000 and the organised labour is asking for N250,000.
“At the end of the day, what is most important is that the national anxiety and hostility would be relaxed as soon as this is made public. I am very happy we could manage this temptation that befell our nation”.
The President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, who represented the unions at the meeting, corroborated Uzodinma, noting that “It was the true position of things”.
According to him, “Currently OPS and the government have recommended N62,000 to be the minimum wage, but for labour, we felt the difficulty and challenges Nigerians face, the sum of N250,000 should be the minimum wage.
“We are going to sign a report and forward this position to Mr. President and he will make recommendations to the National Assembly, so we will keep pushing for a wage that stands the test of time in Nigeria.”
In attendance was the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu; the Minister of State for Labour and Employment Nkiruka Onyejeocha; the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Folashade Yemi Esan; Chairman of the Tripartite Committee on National New minimum wage, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji amongst other.
On organised labour side included the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, Deputy President of NLC Sani Minjibri; Secretary General NLC, Emmanuel Ugboaja; and Secretary General TUC Toro Nuhu, amongst others.
UPDATED: FG Proposes N62,000 As New Minimum Wage But Labour Insists on N250,000 is first published on The Whistler Newspaper