The Federal Government will present new figures to labour unions today to support its minimum wage offer. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, to calculate the cost implications of the proposal.
This directive was given during a meeting with the Federal Government’s negotiation team.
Following the President’s intervention, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) announced a one-week suspension of their strike.
The Tripartite Committee has mandated continuous negotiations throughout the week and the Senate has pledged to expedite the passage of a new Minimum Wage Bill once an agreement is reached.
The labour unions had embarked on the strike on Monday to protest the proposed N60,000 minimum wage, demanding N494,000 instead. The strike resulted in the shutdown of the national grid and flight disruptions.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated that President Tinubu asked Edun to provide the necessary figures for the ongoing negotiations.
The meeting was attended by key government officials including Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Atiku Bagudu, Minister of State for Labour and Employment Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, and NNPCL Group Managing Director Mele Kyari.
“It’s been quite challenging, but we thank God that we’re at this point.
“We thank Labour that true to their words, they have suspended the strike.
“The President summoned a meeting of all those who negotiated on behalf of the Federal Government, led by the SGF.
“The President directed the Minister of Finance to do the numbers and get back to him between today (yesterday) and tomorrow (today) so that we can have some figures ready for negotiation with Labour.”
Idris emphasized the President’s commitment to establishing a realistic and acceptable new minimum wage.
“The government is not opposed to discussions or wage increase, but is desirous of ensuring that there is a balance.
“Therefore, we’ll work assiduously to ensure that whatever we do, whatever promises the government makes, will be kept. That’s the idea of this meeting.
“A wage award is not just that of the Federal Government. The sub-nationals are involved. The organised private sector is involved. Labour is involved.
“It was Labour that staged a walkout during those proceedings.
“Now that we’ve come back to the negotiating table, all of us will work together again, assiduously, within the next one week to ensure that we have a new wage for Nigeria that is acceptable, sustainable and also realistic for all Nigerians.”
The NLC and TUC decided to suspend the strike following an emergency National Executive Council meeting.
