President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of organized labor have adjourned discussions until next week for broader consultations with stakeholders on the new national minimum wage.
The president convened a meeting yesterday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in a bid to resolve the prolonged dispute over the new wage.
Tinubu emphasized that Nigerian workers merit enhanced welfare, improved salaries, and secure and upgraded working conditions as the backbone of the nation.
Present at the meeting were NLC president Comrade Joe Ajaero and his TUC counterpart, Comrade Festus Osifo.
In a statement relayed by presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu expressed his concern for the well-being of Nigerian workers, underscoring his administration’s commitment to addressing their needs.
“I am attentive to all aspects of society. A content worker is a productive one. The productivity of content workers is vital for the progress of society,”stated the President.
Nevertheless, he urged for practical expectations concerning the minimum wage issue, stating: “We must tailor our actions to our available resources. Before finalizing the minimum wage process, we must assess the framework.”
“Why do we revise wages every five years? Why not every two or three years? The challenges we face today may ease in the future. This process is dynamic if we adopt a holistic and pragmatic approach. We can adopt a methodical strategy based on realism and a comprehensive understanding of all factors.”
Ajaero stressed the necessity for an upward adjustment in the minimum wage, remarking: “We must strike a balance between a living wage and the minimum wage. Times are tough for the Nigerian worker.”
He commended the president for the Supreme Court’s ruling affirming the constitutional rights of local governments regarding financial independence and other crucial principles.
“I must applaud you for the issue of local government autonomy. We have advocated for this tirelessly. Now that progress is within reach, it would be ungrateful not to acknowledge your efforts,”remarked the NLC president.
Osifo highlighted how inflation has negatively impacted the value of the naira and emphasized the importance of the government’s initiatives to alleviate the escalating costs of food and transportation.
He mentioned that the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas-powered buses would aid in curbing the high transportation expenses, while the recent directive to suspend duties on specific food imports could potentially lower food prices if effectively implemented.
“We commend you for the landmark ruling by the Supreme Court. Today’s events will be remembered in history. With this ruling, we are optimistic about Nigeria’s advancement,”stated the TUC President.
Ajaero clarified to State House correspondents that, “Our discussions did not revolve around specific monetary figures.”
He confirmed that the previous proposals – the government’s N62,000 and labor’s N250,000 – remain unchanged pending further deliberations.
The approximately 90-minute meeting centered on broader economic challenges affecting Nigerian workers.
Osifo explained that they presented arguments concerning “economic hardships and the devaluation of the naira, which have contributed to the rising costs of commodities and goods in the market.”
Both parties agreed to reconvene in seven days after additional consultations.
Minister of Information Mohammed Idris described the ongoing minimum wage deliberations as “an evolving process.”
