President Tinubu Meets with Organised Labour Over Minimum Wage, Adjourns Talks Till Next Week

President Bola Tinubu engaged with the leadership of the Organised Labour concerning the ongoing discussions on the new minimum wage, leading to an adjournment of talks until the following week. The meeting, held at the State House, included the Presidents of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, where various economic realities were deliberated.

The disagreement over the proposed figures, with the organised private sector and government suggesting N62,000 and Organised Labour demanding N250,000, prompted President Tinubu to delay any submissions to the National Assembly pending further consultations with stakeholders.

Speaking after the meeting, the NLC President emphasized that it was a discussion rather than a negotiation, indicating that a consensus on crucial issues was the primary goal. The status quo of N250,000 and N62,000 remained unchanged until the next meeting, scheduled for the upcoming week.

Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, described the discussions as fruitful, highlighting the importance of dialogue and understanding between all parties involved to reach a resolution.

Addressing the press, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, expressed optimism for a positive outcome after next week’s engagements. The week-long adjournment was at the request of the Organised Labour to allow further internal deliberations.

During the meeting, sources revealed that President Tinubu suggested the consideration of the N62,000 offer by the FG and the organised private sector, proposing a biennial review of the minimum wage instead of the current five-year period stipulated by law.

President Tinubu emphasized the importance of realistic expectations regarding the minimum wage, advocating for a pragmatic and comprehensive approach that factors in economic dynamics and worker welfare. The leaders of both the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress applauded the recent Supreme Court judgment affirming local government autonomy.

The discussion also touched on inflation, currency devaluation, and measures to alleviate the economic burden on citizens. The rollout of Compressed Natural Gas-powered buses and the recent directives on food import duties were highlighted as potential solutions to mitigate rising costs.