President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to meet with the Organised Labour in Abuja on Thursday to continue discussions regarding a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
The President invited the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to attend the meeting, which will take place at the Aso Villa in the nation’s capital.
The President is anticipated to decide on the ₦62,000 proposal put forward by the government and the private sector, as well as the ₦250,000 demand from the Organised Labour.
This meeting follows about a month after the President announced in his Democracy Day Speech on June 12, 2024, that an executive bill concerning the new national minimum wage would soon be sent to the National Assembly for approval.
On June 25, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), chaired by the President, deferred consideration and discussion of the memo on the new minimum wage to allow for further engagement with stakeholders.
Subsequently, on June 27, President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima met with governors of the 36 states and ministers during the 141st meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) to deliberate on the new minimum wage for workers.
The Minimum Wage Act of 2019, which set the minimum wage at ₦30,000, expired in April 2024. This Act mandates a review every five years to align with the current economic needs of workers.
In January, President Bola Tinubu formed a Tripartite Committee to negotiate a new minimum wage. This committee includes representatives from the Organised Labour, the federal and state governments, and the Organised Private Sector.
Despite these efforts, the committee members were unable to agree on a new minimum wage, prompting labour to initiate an indefinite industrial action on Monday, June 3, 2024.
This strike led to widespread business disruptions, affecting airports, hospitals, the national grid, banks, the National Assembly, and state assemblies.
RN
