Labour rejects FG’s N54,000 minimum wage offer, talks resume Wednesday

The Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage adjourned its meeting again after failing to reach a consensus on a new minimum wage despite the federal government increasing its offer from N48,000 to N54,000.

Labour rejected this proposal, insisting on a N615,000 living wage, with the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, reiterating the May 31, 2024 deadline for implementing the new minimum wage.

It was further gathered that disclosed that the absence of state governors and the lack of mandate for their representatives hindered negotiations. Representatives from states like Bauchi and Niger did not have the authority to negotiate on behalf of their governors, and the Organized Private Sector (OPS) also failed to increase its initial offer of N54,000.

Ajaero blamed the government and OPS for the breakdown in negotiations, stating that despite earnest efforts, the actions of these parties were less than reasonable.

The Tripartite Committee, inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu on January 30, 2024, aims to recommend a new national minimum wage to replace the current N30,000, which expired on April 18.

In various zonal public hearings, labour unions proposed different figures as a living wage: The South-West NLC demanded N794,000, the TUC suggested N447,000, North-Central workers demanded N709,000, South-South clamoured for N850,000, North-West proposed N485,000, and South-East stakeholders demanded N540,000.

A highly reliable source revealed that the federal government’s increased offer of N54,000 is significantly lower than the N615,000 proposed by Labour.

Ajaero argued that the N615,000 figure reflects the current economic situation and needs of an average Nigerian family of six.

He accused the government and OPS of undermining negotiations by failing to provide supporting data for their offers and called for transparency and good faith in the negotiation process.

President Tinubu, through Vice President Kashim Shettima, urged the committee to quickly reach a resolution and submit their reports early to ensure the emergence of a new minimum wage.