JUST IN: Labour Rejects Government’s New ₦60,000 Wage Proposal, Demands ₦494,000

In the latest development in the ongoing minimum wage negotiations, the Organised Labour has rejected the Federal Government’s new offer of a ₦60,000 monthly minimum wage. This marks the fourth proposal from the government within two weeks, all of which have been dismissed by the labour unions.

The Organised Labour, which includes the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has slightly revised its demands, lowering the proposed minimum wage from ₦497,000 to ₦494,000. This adjustment follows their initial demand of ₦615,000.

Sources within the Tripartite Committee, responsible for negotiating the new minimum wage, disclosed that the government’s offer had increased from ₦57,000 last week to the current ₦60,000. Previous offers of ₦48,000 and ₦54,000 were also turned down by the unions.

Despite the adjustments and ongoing talks, the latest meeting concluded without reaching an agreement. The Tripartite Committee remains at an impasse just days before the May 31 deadline set by the labour unions for finalizing negotiations.

The unions argue that the current minimum wage of ₦30,000 is insufficient for workers’ well-being, noting that many governors are not even paying this amount. The Minimum Wage Act of 2019, signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari, mandates a review every five years to address the evolving economic needs of workers. The last review’s validity expired in April 2024.

NLC President Joe Ajaero criticized the government’s proposals as inadequate. “It is still not substantial compared to what we need to sustain a family,” Ajaero remarked, highlighting the dire economic situation faced by workers. He emphasized the disparity between the economy of the affluent and that of the working class, calling for a more balanced approach to wage determination.