.Issues 48-hour ultimatum to finance minister on cost implication of paying over N60,000
By Yahaya Umar, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu, has met with the representatives of the Tripartite Committee on New National Minimum Wage, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Tinubu’s, meeting yesterday followed the suspension of a nationwide strike embarked upon by the organized labour, to put pressure on the Federal Government for rise in workers pay amid prevailing inflation in the country.
It would be recalled that in line with the minimum wage act, it was due since April 17 , 2024 and on last Friday, the
labour congress rejected the Federal Government’s N60, 000 offer as new minimum wage and pulled out of negotiation but returned after the leadership of the National Assembly pleaded with them for a meeting in search of a solution.
However, that did not stop the strike earlier planned for Monday, June 3, 2024.
Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, declared an indefinite strike that commenced on Monday but was suspended as the government agreed to pay over N60,000 minimum wage
In this vein, the tripartite committee on the new minimum wage will resumes a daily negotiations that is scheduled to last for one week with a view to concluding talks on the pay rise.
Aso Rock meeting with the President had in attendance Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha and the Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, Melee Kyari.
Earlier, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume, had met in his office with the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, President, Comrade Festus Osifo in company of other representatives of labour. It was at this meeting that the Organised Labour agreed with the FG to suspend strike.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, has directed the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, to come up with the cost Implications on the new minimum wage within two days.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, who stated this while briefing State House Correspondents after Tinubu’s meeting the negotiation team said that “All parties to the negotiation of the New Minimum Wage would work together with the Organised labour to present a new minimum wage for Nigerians in one week”.
According to Mohammed, “All of us will work together assiduously within the next one week to ensure that we have a new wage for Nigeria that is acceptable, sustainable, and also realistic”.
