The federal government has called on labour leaders and other stakeholders to return to the negotiating table to continue discussions on the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
This call to action was made by Bukar Goni, the Chairman of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage, in a letter titled ‘Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage: Negotiation’ dated May 16, 2024, inviting labour leaders to a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 21.
This development follows a dramatic exit by the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) from a minimum wage negotiation meeting on Wednesday. The labour leaders walked out in protest, deeming the government’s offer of ₦48,000 as the new minimum wage “ridiculous.” The Organized Private Sector (OPS) had proposed ₦54,000, while the labour unions steadfastly demanded ₦615,000.
In a statement released after the meeting, the labour leaders expressed profound disappointment, accusing the federal government of being unserious about addressing the plight of Nigerian workers. They described the government’s ₦48,000 offer as an insult to the sensibility of Nigerian workers, highlighting the gap between their expectations and the government’s proposal.
However, according to sources cited by Punch, there are indications that the government might review its proposal upwards in the forthcoming meeting.
The letter from Bukar Goni suggests a willingness on the government’s part to reconsider and potentially increase the ₦48,000 offer.
