The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has appealed to organised labour to be mindful of the nation's economic challenges as they negotiate a new national minimum wage.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the minister acknowledged the government's commitment to securing a fair wage for Nigerian workers. However, she emphasized the need for labour to recognize that the economy is still recovering from the effects of the pandemic and other global economic shocks.
"We appeal to organised labour and other relevant stakeholders to be considerate and patriotic in their demands," Onyejeocha said. "Our economy is still grappling with the devastating consequences of the pandemic and other economic disturbances."
The minister stressed the government's dedication to prioritizing the well-being of all Nigerians and urged all parties involved to demonstrate patriotism and understanding during this critical period.
"President Bola Tinubu is working tirelessly to revitalize the economy, and we need the collective effort of all stakeholders to overcome the complex and multifaceted challenges we face," she added.
The government has proposed an increase in the minimum wage from N57,000 to N60,000, a move that Onyejeocha described as a demonstration of the government's willingness to listen to labour's concerns and work towards a mutually beneficial agreement.
However, organised labour has insisted on a higher demand of N494,000, down from their initial proposal of N497,000. Labour had earlier set a deadline of May 31, 2024, for the announcement of the new minimum wage.
Despite the ongoing negotiations, a top official of the NLC stated that labour has not changed its position that the minimum wage negotiations should conclude by Friday.
