The Federal Government has announced that it will resume negotiations with organised labour and other stakeholders on Tuesday regarding the proposed national minimum wage of N48,000. There are indications that the government might consider reviewing the proposal upward.
Alhaji Bukar Goni, the Chairman of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage, sent an invitation letter to labour leaders on May 16, 2024.
This development comes just a day after the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) walked out of the minimum wage negotiation committee when the Federal Government offered to pay N48,000 as the new minimum wage. The organised private sector, on the other hand, proposed an initial offer of N54,000.
After leaving the talks, the labour leaders addressed a press conference where they expressed their anger over the Federal Government's offer. The National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, insisted on a minimum wage of N615,000, arguing that the amount was arrived at after an analysis of the current economic situation and the needs of an average Nigerian family of six.
Ajaero blamed the government and the organised private sector for the breakdown in negotiations, stating, "Despite earnest efforts to reach an equitable agreement, the less than reasonable action of the Government and the Organised Private Sector has led to a breakdown in negotiations."
However, Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, the Director-General of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), speaking on behalf of the organised private sector, described the unions' walkout when negotiation had not started as unfortunate.
The NECA DG admonished the union leaders to reconsider their position and return to the negotiation table in the interest of their members and national development.
