The Nigerian government has signaled its willingness to increase the national minimum wage beyond the N60,000 mark, urging labour unions to accept the higher offer.
While the specific figure was not disclosed, the government’s stance was revealed late Monday following a meeting with 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).
The government’s statement was jointly signed by Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation; Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State for Labour and Employment; Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC; and Festus Osifo, President of the TUC. According to the statement, “The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, is committed to a National Minimum Wage that exceeds N60,000.”
This development comes after the National Assembly intervened on June 2, 2024, following the withdrawal of labour unions from wage negotiations and their subsequent declaration of a nationwide strike on June 3, 2024, to press their demands. In a bid to resolve the crisis, the Federal Government convened a meeting with labour representatives on June 3, 2024, at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The statement further outlined the following resolutions reached during the exhaustive deliberations:
1. The Tripartite Committee will meet daily for the next week to arrive at an agreeable National Minimum Wage.
2. Labour unions, in deference to the President’s commitment, will convene a meeting of their organs immediately to consider this commitment.
3. No worker will be victimized as a result of the industrial action.
The official document of the resolution reached between the Federal Government and the NLC can be found below:
We hope a permanent solution is found as soon as possible.
Solid FM | April 10, 2024
