New Minimum Wage: Labour Makes Fresh Demand From Tinubu

• Labour has asked President Bola Tinubu to personally engage them in discussion on the new minimum wage

• According to the union, President Tinubu’s intervention could avert the planned strike scheduled to commence on Monday, June 3 

• They alleged that what President Tinubu promised them was a living wage, but the N60,000 proposal did not fall within such a category 

FCT, Abuja – Organized Labour has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing negotiations between its leaders and the federal government concerning a new minimum wage. The union believes that Tinubu’s involvement could help prevent the indefinite strike scheduled to begin on Monday, June 3.

The demand for intervention follows a stalemate in negotiations between the federal government and organized labour. The government, along with the organized private sector, had increased their offer to N60,000 from the initial N57,000. However, the union dismissed this proposal, insisting that it did not meet their expectations for a living wage. Sources within the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) indicated that labour would not accept anything less than a six-digit minimum wage. They expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s proposal, criticizing it as insufficient and not aligned with President Tinubu’s promises made during his inauguration and on Workers’ Day to provide a living wage for workers.

The federal government cautioned that the new national minimum wage demanded by labour could destabilize the economy. Despite this, organized labour had previously given the government an ultimatum to decide on the new minimum wage by May 31, 2024. In a related development, President Tinubu addressed the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum, explaining the federal government’s lawsuit against the 36 governors. He emphasized the need for governors to prioritize local communities, lamenting the neglect of local government responsibilities.

Organized labour’s call for presidential intervention underscores the critical nature of the negotiations and the potential impact on the nation’s workforce and economy.