President Tinubu and Organized Labour Adjourn Minimum Wage Talks Until Next Week for Wider Consultation
Thursday's discussions between President Bola Tinubu and Organized Labour regarding the minimum wage have been postponed to next week to allow for broader stakeholder consultation.
The leadership of Organized Labour, including Nigeria Labour Congress President Joe Ajaero and Trade Union Congress President Festus Osifo, arrived at the State House around 2:00 pm and were ushered into the President's office.
The Tripartite Committee on the new national minimum wage had recently proposed two figures to the President: the organised private sector and the government team suggested N62,000, while Organized Labour demanded N250,000. Due to this discrepancy, the President has delayed submitting any figure to the National Assembly, opting instead for further consultation to resolve the contentious issues.
After the meeting, Ajaero informed State House Correspondents that no negotiations took place during the one-hour meeting; instead, it discussed the country's current economic realities. He mentioned that they agreed to reconvene in a week after considering the issues more thoroughly.
Ajaero clarified that they did not discuss specific amounts, with the current figures of N250,000 and N62,000 remaining unchanged until further conversations.
Osifo added that they presented all economic indices and their impact on Nigerians to the President, emphasizing the urgent need for government action on food scarcity and security challenges.
Despite the lack of resolution, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, described the meeting as "fruitful," likening it to a "father-children meeting" and expressing hope for a positive outcome soon.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, remained optimistic about reaching an agreement after next week's talks. He highlighted that the government had proposed N62,000, but Labour had yet to accept it.
Sources privy to the meeting revealed that President Tinubu urged Labour to consider the N62,000 offer, suggesting the possibility of reviewing the minimum wage every two years instead of five. Tinubu emphasized realistic expectations and a pragmatic approach to wage adjustments.
NLC President Ajaero stressed the need for an upward adjustment to the minimum wage, noting the challenges faced by Nigerian workers. He also congratulated the President on the Supreme Court judgment affirming local government autonomy.
TUC President Osifo highlighted the adverse effects of inflation on the naira's value and emphasized the importance of government measures to address rising costs of food and transportation. He praised the Supreme Court's judgment as a historic milestone that will aid Nigeria's progress.
