Following the ongoing strike by the organized labour, the Federal Government has offered to pay a minimum wage above N60,000.
This was was disclosed after a meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its counterpart, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation OSGF on Monday night, June 3.
Recall that the organised Labour declared an indefinite nationwide strike on Friday due to the Federal Government’s refusal to increase its new minimum wage offer above N60,000.
The unions had earlier given May 31, 2024 deadline for the conclusion of new minimum wage negotiations.
The government had raised its minimum wage offer from N57,000 to N60,000 while the labour unions reduced their demand to N494,000 from N497,000 proposed earlier. The labour leaders initially demanded N615,000.
For the Federal Government during the meeting on Monday night, those who signed the statement were Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation; Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha and, Minister of State for Labour and Employment.
For the Organised Labour, those who signed were Joe Ajaero, President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Festus Osifo, President, Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The statement reads “Further to the negotiation by the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage (NMW) and subsequent withdrawal of Labour from negotiation, the Leadership of the National Assembly intervened on 2nd June, 2024. The Organised Labour declared nationwide strike on Monday, 3rd June, 2024 to drive home its demands.
The Federal Government, in the National interest, convened a meeting with Labour held in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, on Monday 3rd June, with a view to ending the strike action.
After exhaustive deliberation and engagement by both parties, the following resolutions were reached:
The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria is committed to a National Minimum Wage that is higher than N60,000;
Arising from the above, the Tripartite Committee is to meet everyday for the next one week with a view to arriving at an agreeable National Minimum Wage;
Labour in deference to the high esteem of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria’s commitment in (ii) above undertakes to convene a meeting of its organs immediately to consider this commitment; and
No worker would be victimized as a result of the industrial action.
