FG and Labour to Reconvene Next Week for Minimum Wage Negotiations

The Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage is scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday, May 23 in order to continue negotiations for a reasonable new minimum wage for workers. This comes after the organised labour walked out of the previous negotiation on May 15.

The chairman of the committee, Bukar Goni, sent an invitation letter to the labour leaders, stating that the other committee members have agreed to make adjustments from the initial N48,000 proposal.

The letter urged the labour leaders to communicate with their members and attend the reconvened meeting next Tuesday.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have proposed a new minimum wage of N615,000, which is significantly higher than the government’s proposal.

On the other hand, the organised private sector initially offered N54,000. Following the breakdown in negotiation, the labour leaders held a press conference where they expressed their dissatisfaction with the government’s offer and blamed both the government and the private sector for the impasse.

The Federal Government had failed to present a nationally acceptable minimum wage to Nigerians before Labour Day on May 1, leading to tensions between labour and the government.

NLC President Joe Ajaero insisted on the N615,000 minimum wage, citing the economic situation and the needs of an average Nigerian family of six. Ajaero and other labour leaders have set a May 31 deadline for the Federal Government to meet their demands.

The tripartite committee was inaugurated on January 30 by Vice President Kashim Shettima with the aim of determining a new minimum wage.

The panel, which consists of representatives from federal and state governments, the private sector, and organized labor, has been tasked with recommending a new national minimum wage for the country.

During the committee’s inauguration, the Vice President emphasized the importance of a speedy resolution and early submission of reports.

The timely submission of these reports is crucial in order to establish a new minimum wage, as stated by Shettima.

The committee, chaired by Goni Aji, the former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, is comprised of 37 members. With the cost of living increasing due to the removal of fuel subsidy, the demand for a new minimum wage remains a prominent issue in Nigeria.