Government May Reconsider N48,000 Minimum Wage Amid Labour Talks

The Federal Government is attempting to rekindle negotiations with labour unions over the proposed new minimum wage after union representatives walked out of the previous round of talks on Wednesday. The government is reportedly eager to resolve the wage dispute swiftly, though it remains uncertain if an agreement can be reached before the May 31 deadline set by labour.

During the latest meeting of the Bukar Goni Aji-led 37-member Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage, the government proposed a minimum wage of N48,000. This figure fell significantly short of the N615,000 demanded by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), leading to the unions’ exit from the discussion.

Alhaji Goni Aji has now scheduled another meeting for Tuesday, May 21, in an effort to finalize negotiations. He indicated the government’s willingness to reconsider its N48,000 offer.

In a letter dated May 16, 2024, inviting the unions to the meeting, Goni Aji emphasized the need for compromise: “We need to all sit back at the negotiation table to analyze the tripartite position and shift grounds by all sides to enable us to conclude the assignment before you travel to the ILO Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.”

A source from the Presidency acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the timely resolution of the wage negotiations: “Not sure. The negotiation is still on. The negotiation team will meet again next week.”

The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission described the ongoing talks as “work in progress.”

President Bola Tinubu, during his Workers Day speech, had expressed his administration’s openness to considering a living wage that addresses workers’ living conditions, rather than just a minimum wage. He assured workers that the issue would be resolved soon.

Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, also reiterated the government’s empathy towards workers’ struggles and urged for continued social dialogue in resolving disputes.

NLC President Joe Ajaero detailed the rationale behind the union’s N615,000 demand during a recent visit to The Nation. The breakdown included allocations for accommodation, food, medicals, education, utilities, and other basic needs, illustrating the insufficiency of the proposed N48,000 wage.

The Goni Aji committee, which includes representatives from the government, private sector, and organized labour, was inaugurated on January 30, 2024, to develop a new minimum wage ahead of the current N30,000 wage’s expiration on April 18.