Labour Rejects Federal Government’s N48,000 Minimum Wage Offer, Walks Out of Negotiation Meeting

Organized labour, represented by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), walked out of a minimum wage committee meeting with the Federal Government. The reason? Discontent over the government’s offer of N48,000 as the new minimum wage.

The labor unions had initially proposed a minimum wage of N615,000 and set a deadline of May 31 for negotiations to conclude on a new living wage. However, tensions flared as the Tripartite Committee on New National Minimum Wage reconvened for discussions.

Professor Theophilus Ndubuaku, a representative of the NLC, expressed frustration, stating, “We asked whether the N45,000 is for transport, food, clothing, housing or for what. So we just told them that since they are not serious, we better just leave, so we stormed out of the place.”

The government’s offer, presented by the Permanent Secretary of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Office, fell far short of the labor unions’ expectations and failed to address their concerns regarding the cost of living and basic necessities.