Nigeria Government and Labor Unions Sign Minimum Wage Agreement at N70,000

Nigeria‘s federal government and organized labor have officially signed an agreement on a new minimum wage set at N70,000. This groundbreaking development follows the work of the recently established Committee on Consequential Salary Adjustments, which was created to review the Minimum Wage Act of 2024.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who also chaired the committee, praised the members for their dedication, stating, “Both the Trade Union and the Government sides have agreed on the Consequential Adjustments in Salaries arising from the new minimum wage of N70,000.” Mrs. Walson-Jack described the negotiation process as the shortest and most conflict-free in recent times.

All parties have signed copies of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will now be submitted to the federal government for further action, according to Walson-Jack. Benjamin Anthony, National Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council, representing the trade unions, expressed satisfaction with the committee’s efforts.

In conjunction with this development, the federal government has also reiterated its commitment to completing the National Library’s headquarters project, which has been underway for over two decades. The government plans to increase the budget allocation for library development, employ qualified librarians, and encourage library management software development. These announcements were made by the Minister of Education, Prof. Mamman Tahir, during the launch of the 2024 Annual Readership Promotion Campaign.

The campaign, themed “Reading Without Boundaries: A Renewed Hope,” focuses on extending access to reading materials across the country, particularly in underserved areas. “Our focus is on breaking down barriers to reading and ensuring that access to reading materials is available to all Nigerians,” stated Tahir, who was represented by Abdullahi Zubairu, Director of Special Duties.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Chinwe Veronica Anunobi, Chief Librarian and CEO of the National Library, emphasized the importance of leveraging technological devices to enhance inclusivity and cater to diverse interests in reading, as part of the 2024 Readership Promotion Campaign.