President Tinubu and Organised Labour Adjourn Minimum Wage Talks for Further Consultation

Thursday’s discussion between President Bola Tinubu and the Organised Labour regarding the minimum wage culminated in an agreement to adjourn talks until next week, allowing for broader consultations with all stakeholders. Representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress met with President Tinubu at the State House, aiming to reconcile differences in proposed minimum wage figures.

The Tripartite Committee, consisting of representatives from the organised private sector and the government, had put forth conflicting figures with one side advocating for N62,000 and the other, the Organised Labour, demanding N250,000. This discrepancy prompted the President to withhold the submission of any figure to the Nigeria National Assembly, opting instead to engage in further consultations.

Following the one-hour meeting, the Presidents of both the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress addressed journalists. They clarified that the meeting focused on the prevailing economic conditions in the country rather than engaging in direct negotiations.

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment described the session as fruitful, characterizing it as a productive discussion between “father and children.” The Minister of Information and National Orientation expressed optimism about the outcome of the next round of discussions scheduled for next week.

During the meeting, President Tinubu suggested a review of the minimum wage every two years, underscoring the need for realistic expectations while prioritizing the welfare of Nigerian workers. He lauded the labour leaders for their engagement and emphasized the importance of balancing living wage demands with economic feasibility.