Remember when Nigerian Labour leaders were making a big fuss about minimum wage increments? Their shoulders were high, making noise everywhere. But now? It’s like they’ve lost their voices. Every time they sit down with the government, it’s the same old story—no resolution in sight.
Leaders of the Organised Labour, including Joe Ajaero of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Festus Osifo of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), were seen heading into a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Thursday afternoon. The topic? The new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
President Tinubu is supposed to decide between the government’s ₦62,000 proposal and the Organised Labour’s ₦250,000 demand. This meeting comes almost a month after Tinubu announced in his Democracy Day speech on June 12, 2024, that a bill on the new national minimum wage would soon be sent to the National Assembly.
But let’s not get too excited. On June 25, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), chaired by Tinubu, stepped back from discussing the new minimum wage memo, saying more talks with stakeholders were needed. Just two days later, Tinubu and Vice President Kassim Shettima met with governors and ministers at the 141st meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) to hash out the same issue.
So, what’s the deal? Every meeting ends with more talk and no action. Nigerian labour workers are left in the darkness, waiting for their leaders to actually deliver on their promises. The Organised Labour’s credibility is taking a hit, and it’s clear why: they’ve become all bark and no bite.
