FG proposes N54,000 minimum wage, Labour rejects

After the Organised Labour, which includes the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, walked out of the last meeting with the Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage due to the proposed N48,000 as the minimum wage by the Federal Government, there have been recent developments.

According to a report by PUNCH, the Federal Government has now increased the proposed minimum wage to N54,000.

This adjustment demonstrates the government’s willingness to address the concerns of the Organised Labour and work towards a fair and sustainable minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

“The Federal Government has now proposed the sum of N54,000,” a reliable source told PUNCH.

However, in a fresh negotiations on Tuesday on the new minimum wage, the organised labour rejected the new N54,000 minimum wage proposal by the Federal Government.

The meeting held on Tuesday was a direct response to the walkout staged by members of the organised labour. This walkout occurred due to the Federal Government’s proposal of N48,000 as the minimum wage during last week’s meeting.

The subsequent meeting was convened to address the concerns raised by the organised labour and find a resolution that ensures a fair and reasonable minimum wage for all workers.

During that meeting, the OPS had also proposed N54,000 while labour insisted on its N615,000 living wage demand.

Sources who attended the follow-up meeting on Tuesday learnt that the Federal Government upped its offer from N48,000 to N54,000.

“Well, during the meeting, the government increased its offer from N48,000 to N54,000. However, labour rejected that offer and the meeting has been adjourned till Wednesday,” a source who asked not to be named said.

When asked if the government’s side was showing any sign of seriousness, the labour leader said, “No seriousness at all. Even state governors did not show up. Those who represented them, like Bauchi and Niger states, did not have the mandates to speak on their behalf.

“As regards the private sector, we did not get to them before the meeting was adjourned but we hope they also increase their initial offer.”

Organised labour on Monday reiterated its May 31, 2024 deadline for the implementation of the new minimum wage.

The National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, insisted on N615,000 minimum wage, arguing that the amount was arrived at after an analysis of the current economic situation and the needs of an average Nigerian family of six.