The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Festus Osifo, announced that the Organized Labour has accepted ₦70,000 as the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers. This decision emerged from the realization that wage reviews in Nigeria will now occur every three years instead of every five.
Did They Really Have a Choice?
One might wonder if they had any real choice. While ₦70,000 is barely an improvement, it certainly beats the stingy ₦62,000 proposed by some heartless governors. The public is tired of hearing excuses about governors being unable to pay or threatening to sack workers. It’s high time they stepped up, and the labour unions must remain vigilant.
The announcement came on Thursday after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja. Flanked by Information Minister Mohammed Idris, Labour Minister Nkiruka Onyejeocha, and other officials, Ajaero and Osifo addressed the media.
NLC President’s Remarks
Joe Ajaero stated, “What has been announced in terms of the amount of ₦70,000 is where we are now. But the significant aspect is that we will not wait another five years for a review. Instead, we will negotiate potentially twice within five years. This provision for a review in three years is one reason we reached this agreement today.”
He also mentioned, “We raised other issues, like the concerns of SSANU, NASU, and the affront by the Commissioner of Police FCT. We brought these to Mr. President, who magnanimously directed the concerned agencies to work out modalities for paying university workers.”
Osifo’s Comments
Festus Osifo added, “The President’s announcement of ₦70,000 will be formalized and sent to the National Assembly by next week. We pushed against the five-year review cycle, arguing that economic indicators change too quickly for such delays. Now, we have a three-year review cycle, and labour is prepared for the President’s promise.”
Background of the Negotiations
The “agreement” followed several meetings between labour leaders and President Tinubu after months of failed talks with a tripartite committee on the minimum wage. This committee, comprising state and federal governments and the Organized Private Sector, initially proposed ₦62,000, while labour demanded ₦250,000. Currently, workers earn ₦30,000, a figure deemed unsustainable due to inflation and the high cost of living post-petrol subsidy removal.
Conclusion
The Information Minister confirmed on Thursday that the agreed amount of ₦70,000 would be communicated to the National Assembly in the coming days. While this may not be the ideal figure, it marks a step forward in the relentless struggle for fair wages in Nigeria.
