Minimum wage: Organised labour hints on new plan after rejecting
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), collectively known as organised labour, are awaiting President Bola Tinubu’s response to the proposed ₦62,000 minimum wage.
The Tripartite Committee, comprising the Federal Government, organised labour, and the organised private sector, raised the proposed minimum wage from ₦60,000 to ₦62,000 during their meeting on Friday.
Festus Osifo, the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), promptly dismissed the proposed minimum wage of ₦62,000, emphasizing that the labor movement will not settle for anything less than ₦250,000, which they consider a fair and reasonable minimum wage.
Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) stated that Tinubu’s verdict would determine Organised Labour’s next move.
President Bola Tinubu is expected to study the proposal and send a bill to the National Assembly for the final consideration of the new national minimum wage Act.
In a chat with The Nation, Ajaero stated that Labour is prepared to wait for the President to consult further before making his decision public.
He recalled how the current ₦30,000 minimum wage was set, noting that a lower figure had initially been suggested before being raised by the then-president prior to legislative approval.
Meanwhile, State Governors who are not willing to pay N60,000 as minimum wage have been advised by the Organised Labour to resign immediately.
The Governors, representing the 36 state governors, had previously rejected the proposed minimum wage of ₦60,000, citing that it was excessive and unsustainable for the states to implement.
The Governors Forum announced that they would only agree to pay a maximum of ₦57,000 as the minimum wage.
sparking a swift reaction from Organised Labour on Saturday. Labour leaders criticized the governors’ stance, labeling it as “harmful” and ” insensitive” to the plight of vulnerable groups.
