The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) announced on Thursday that they did not sign the new minimum wage report submitted to President Bola Tinubu. The labour leaders stressed the need for consultation with all stakeholders before the new minimum wage bill is sent to the National Assembly.
Speaking at the International Labour Conference in Geneva, NLC President Joe Ajaero and TUC President Festus Osifo denied knowledge of the proposed figure in the report. They emphasized their commitment to securing the best possible offer for Nigerian workers. Both leaders highlighted the disparity in figures discussed, with the government and private sector agreeing on N62,000, while labour insisted on N250,000.
Ajaero stated, “We expect the President to invite tripartite bodies to discuss the ability to pay before arriving at a final figure. We need to see and approve the content of the report submitted to the President.” Osifo added that the urgency of finalizing a new minimum wage is critical due to the current harsh economic conditions, promising to push for arrears payment once the new wage is approved.
The labour leaders reiterated their determination to ensure a fair minimum wage for Nigerian workers and the necessity of thorough consultations before any final decisions are made.