FG Reconsiders Minimum Wage, Offers New Proposal to Labour Leaders

The Federal Government and labour leaders reached a breakthrough in their dispute over the national minimum wage on Monday June 3,2024 in Abuja.

The meeting, held at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, aimed to resolve the impasse and end the nationwide strike declared by the organised labour.

Prior to the meeting, the Federal Government had proposed a new minimum wage of N60,000, which labour leaders deemed insufficient.

However, on Monday June 3,2024, the government agreed to pay a higher minimum wage, although the exact figure was not disclosed.

The meeting resulted in several resolutions. Firstly, President Bola Tinubu committed to establishing a National Minimum Wage higher than N60,000.

Secondly, the Tripartite Committee would convene daily for the next week to finalise an agreeable National Minimum Wage.

Additionally, the organised labour agreed to hold meetings of its organs to consider the new offer, and no worker would face victimisation for participating in the industrial action.

The resolutions were signed by Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, on behalf of the Federal Government.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, and the President of the Trade Union Congress, Festus Osifo, represented the organised labour.

The development comes after the NLC declared a nationwide indefinite strike starting at midnight on Sunday, June 2, 2024, due to the Federal Government’s initial refusal to increase the proposed minimum wage above N60,000.

The strike had paralysed various sectors across the country, but the latest agreement offers hope for a resolution.