In a significant development, the federal government of Nigeria and organized labour unions have reached an agreement on a new national minimum wage that exceeds N60,000.
This consensus was achieved following a crucial meeting held on Monday, involving leaders from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and federal government representatives.
The meeting, convened by the federal government, was a response to the indefinite nationwide strike initiated by labour unions demanding a living wage.
George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), announced the resolutions at the conclusion of the meeting.
He emphasized President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to establishing a minimum wage that surpasses N60,000.
“President Bola Tinubu is committed to a national minimum wage that is higher than N60,000,” Akume stated. “Let me reassure Nigerians that we have had a very realistic and patriotic meeting, and the results will be manifesting.”
To finalize the details, a tripartite committee will be meeting daily over the next week. Akume mentioned that, in recognition of President Tinubu’s commitment, the labour unions have agreed to convene internal meetings to discuss the new minimum wage proposal.
Additionally, Akume assured that no worker would face repercussions for participating in the strike. The industrial action, which began on Monday, had significantly disrupted activities in public schools, government offices, airports, and various public institutions.
The strike was declared after the federal government failed to meet the proposed minimum wage demands from the NLC and TUC, who have been advocating for new wages of N615,500 and N494,000 respectively. These figures were suggested to address the issues of inflation and economic hardship affecting workers across the country.
This agreement marks a pivotal step towards improving the livelihood of Nigerian workers and reflects a collaborative effort to address the economic challenges faced by the workforce.
(TheCable)
