The negotiations over the national minimum wage hit another obstacle after the Federal Government’s negotiating team raised its offer by N2,000, bringing it to N62,000. On the other hand, organized labor lowered the amount they demanded to N250,000. The state governors declared that they could not afford to pay even the N60,000 minimum wage proposed by the Federal Government before it was increased by N2,000. There were reports that the government’s offer was supported by the Organized Private Sector (OPS).
The Tripartite Committee on New National Minimum Wage (NNMW) has adjourned due to the disagreement. The report is to be communicated to the President for further deliberation. The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) stated that they could not sustain the proposed N60,000 minimum wage by the Federal Government and expressed concerns that it would leave little for development purposes and result in some states borrowing to pay workers every month.
The NGF urged all parties to consider the sustainability of the minimum wage and appealed for a fair and realistic agreement taking into account all socioeconomic variables. The statement emphasized the need for sustainability and fairness to all segments of society with legitimate claims to public resources.
Following a six-hour meeting with the leadership of the Federal Government, members of organized labor, including the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, had earlier decided to call off their strike for five days. The President had expressed commitment to establishing a National Minimum Wage higher than N60,000, and the Tripartite Committee was set to convene daily for the next week to finalize an agreeable National Minimum Wage.
