Organised Labour has urged President Bola Tinubu to personally intervene in the ongoing minimum wage negotiations to avert an indefinite strike set to start on Monday.
The Federal Government has warned that the minimum wage demand by labour could destabilise the economy.
Labour had set a May 31, 2024, deadline for the new minimum wage. Talks between the Federal Government and Organised Labour broke down on May 28, with the government’s offer of N60,000 being rejected by labour, who called it insufficient.
Sources from the Trade Union Congress and Nigeria Labour Congress emphasized that labour would not accept less than a six-digit figure.
They criticized the government for not making a serious offer, noting that President Tinubu had promised a living wage, which N57,000 does not meet.
On June 3, 2024, the Nigeria Labour Congress declared an indefinite nationwide strike due to the government’s refusal to increase the minimum wage offer above N60,000. Despite the government’s final offer of N60,000, labour unions found it inadequate.
Labour reduced its demand from N497,000 to N494,000 during negotiations, but the government held firm at N60,000, leading to a deadlock and the strike declaration.
Minister of State for Labour Nkeiruka Onyecheoja urged Organised Labour to return to the negotiation table, stressing that the government is still willing to negotiate. She warned that the proposed N494,000 wage would be unsustainable for the government.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris echoed these concerns, stating that labour’s demand would amount to N9.5 trillion annually, destabilizing the economy and affecting over 200 million Nigerians.
He noted that the government’s offer represents a 100% increase over the existing minimum wage, which had been accepted by the Organised Private Sector.
