The Federal Government has announced that President Bola Tinubu is committed to achieving a national minimum wage higher than ₦60,000.
This development comes after a meeting between the government and organized labour on Monday, led by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The meeting, convened by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, aimed to resolve the nationwide industrial strike called by labour over minimum wage disagreements.
According to the agreement, the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage will resume negotiations from Tuesday to arrive at a mutually agreeable national minimum wage. Additionally, no worker will be victimized for participating in the industrial action.
The agreement reads:
– President Tinubu is committed to a national minimum wage higher than ₦60,000.
– The Tripartite Committee will meet daily for the next week to negotiate an agreeable national minimum wage.
– Labour will convene an emergency meeting to consider the government’s commitment.
– No worker will be victimized for the industrial action.
The agreement was signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, for the federal government, and by NLC President Joe Ajaero and TUC President Festus Osifo for organized labour.
Organized labour will meet with its affiliate members on Tuesday to deliberate on the next course of action. This development signals a potential end to the nationwide strike and a new era of cooperation between the government and labour.