Minimum wage talks end today, Labour awaits Tinubu’s nod

As the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress await President Bola Tinubu's judgement on their N250,000 offer, the negotiations over a new minimum wage between the Federal Government and Organised Labour are anticipated to come to an end on Monday, or today.

The union leaders set a deadline of Monday for the resolution of the negotiations over the new minimum wage.

The Federal Government, the Organised Private Sector, and Labour agreed on N62,000, while the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage finished its meetings last Friday. Labour requested N250,000.

In a statement, the Nigeria Governors Forum asserted that a minimum salary beyond N60,000 was unsustainable.

Labour leaders told our correspondents on Sunday that the parties were awaiting the President's decision on the proposals presented by the tripartite committee.
For security concerns, the labour leaders, who wished to remain anonymous, said that NLC President Joe Ajaero and other high-ranking union officials had departed the nation to attend a labour convention in Geneva, Switzerland, which was being hosted by the International Labour Organisation.

After returning from Geneva, the labour leaders would gather as the National Executive Council and decide whether to go on strike depending on the president's input.

"The report has been presented to the president, and we are awaiting his decision. We are all waiting for that since it is the most crucial thing.

Currently, a few of us are in route to Geneva for the ILO gathering. Sunday is the day that some of us are going, some of us have already gone, and others w"We have to return from Geneva before we can even convene a meeting of the NEC. We are also taking precautions to avoid the government accusing Labour of instigating people to oppose the administration. We are attempting to exercise caution because, as you are aware, they are in charge of the armed forces. We are waiting for this reason," a senior NLC official stated.

Another NLC source responded, "We have sent a report to the committee and we are expecting the president to act on it," when questioned about Monday's ultimatum.

"When we get back from Geneva, we should have a meeting of the National Executive Council to discuss the ultimatum. Although it is crucial that we attend, we are currently waiting amiably for the President to make his decision.

Organised Labour, which includes the TUC and NLC, went on a two-day statewide walkout last Monday and Tuesday in protest of the increase in electricity prices and in demand of a higher minimum wage for workers.

However, the labour leadership agreed to reopen talks with the federal government and come up with a new minimum wage within a week, which resulted in a five-day suspension of the strike.

The President gave Wale Edun, the Finance Minister, instructions on Tuesday to expedite the talks by presenting the financial consequences of a new minimum wage within two days.

In order to establish a new, reasonable salary award for Nigerians, Tinubu also gave the government officials instructions to collaborate with the organised private sector and the sub-nationals.

Along with Atiku Bagudu, the minister of budget and national planning, the finance minister presented Tinubu with the financial effects of enacting a new national minimum wage on Thursday in the Presidential Villa.

It was stated that the president would make an official announcement after examining the idea.