Following ongoing discussions on establishing a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers, organized labour has indicated its flexibility on the proposed figures. The tripartite committee on minimum wage recently concluded its deliberations, presenting two different figures to President Bola Tinubu for consideration. While the government and the organized private sector have suggested ₦62,000, organized labour is advocating for ₦250,000 as the new minimum wage.
Festus Osifo, President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), during an appearance on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, *The Morning Brief*, on Friday, stated that no figure is fixed and there is always room for adjustments. “What we said is that for us when we give figures, there is always a room to meander, there is always a room for us to do some adjustment here and there,” Osifo remarked. He emphasized that the labour movement is open to negotiations and that no figure is set in stone.
Osifo recounted that one of the reasons for the previous industrial action was the government’s rigid stance on the ₦60,000 figure, refusing any increments. This inflexibility, coupled with delays, led to the strike.
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President Tinubu is expected to present an executive bill to the National Assembly for legislative action. Osifo mentioned that while they are not preempting the President’s decision, labour is actively working to justify their proposed figure over the government’s and the private sector’s suggestion. He added that if the President proposes a figure unfavourable to labour, they will approach the lawmakers to advocate for a higher amount.
Osifo vowed that the efforts of labour leaders would continue until the Minimum Wage Act 2024 is enacted. He stressed that it is premature to predict labour’s reaction if the final figure is not acceptable to them.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has expressed that the new minimum wage must be affordable for the government. Speaking at a dinner marking Nigeria’s 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, he stated, “The minimum wage is going to be what Nigerians can afford, what you can afford and what I can afford. Cut your coat according to your size, if you have size at all.” Tinubu emphasized the importance of a sustainable wage that aligns with the country’s economic realities.
The ongoing negotiations highlight the delicate balance between fair compensation for workers and the government’s fiscal capacity. The labour unions remain committed to advocating for a wage that reflects the cost of living and economic conditions in Nigeria.
