Tinubu, Governors Silent on Minimum Wage at NEC Meeting

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the governors of Nigeria’s 36 states remained silent on the contentious issue of the minimum wage during the 142nd National Economic Council (NEC) meeting. The meeting, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

This silence has left millions of Nigerians and members of organized labor in anticipation, as they had hoped for a definitive stance on the matter following the removal of the fuel subsidy on May 29, 2023, and the expiration of the N30,000 minimum wage agreed upon in 2019.

Despite heightened expectations, especially with President Tinubu’s presence at the meeting, the council did not address the minimum wage. This issue has been under scrutiny since the 37-member Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage, led by former Head of Service Bukar Aji, submitted its report weeks ago after extensive deliberations.

Previously, during his Democracy Day speech on June 12, 2024, President Tinubu announced that a consensus had been reached and that a proposal would be submitted to the National Assembly. However, this claim was disputed by organized labor, who stated they were unaware of any such agreement. The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) also rejected the proposed N62,000 minimum wage, citing financial constraints that would force some states to borrow to meet the payment.

Currently, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) are advocating for a minimum wage of N250,000.

Earlier this week, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) deferred a memo regarding the planned new minimum wage. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, explained that further consultations with various stakeholders, including local governments, states, the federal government, and the private sector, were necessary.

Following the NEC meeting, no mention of the minimum wage was made, and governors who addressed the press did not entertain questions on the matter. Instead, President Tinubu approved a one-time allocation of N10 billion to states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the procurement of buses and the CNG uplift program as part of a new initiative called the “National Construction and Household Support Programme.”

According to presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale, the program includes N50,000 uplift grants to 100,000 families per state for three months and provisions for labor unions and civil society organizations. The initiative aims to enhance agricultural productivity, boost the economy, and provide immediate economic relief.

Additionally, President Tinubu approved full counterpart financing for major infrastructure projects, including the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Railway and the Ibadan-Abuja segment of the Lagos-Kano Standard-Gauge Railway. These projects are expected to improve transportation and agricultural sustainability.

Addressing the governors, President Tinubu urged collaboration to meet citizens’ needs, emphasizing the urgency of delivering critical reforms.

“Our states must work together to deliver on the critical reforms required of us to meet the needs of our people. Time is humanity’s most precious asset. You can never have enough of it. It is getting late. We are prepared to provide solar-powered irrigation facilities to support our farmers across seasons, but we must now produce. We must produce the food our people eat, and it will require coordination and intentionality between members of the National Economic Council (NEC),” Tinubu said.

Meanwhile, the governors, after a meeting that extended into the early hours of Thursday, agreed to continue engaging with key stakeholders to reach a mutually agreeable solution, as revealed in a communiqué signed by NGF’s acting Director, Media, Ahmed Salihu. They assured Nigerians and organized labor that ongoing negotiations would result in a better minimum wage.

Reflecting on similar promises made during an NEC meeting in August 2023, where the federal government approved a N5 billion grant and distribution of grains as palliatives, many Nigerians expressed dissatisfaction with the implementation, citing inadequate and uneven distribution of the relief materials.