Wage: We Did Not Meet President To Talk Naira And Kobo, Our N250,000 Demand Unchanged – Labour

In a recent report by the Daily Trust, President Bola Tinubu met with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to discuss the new national minimum wage. The meeting was attended by NLC president Joe Ajaero and TUC president Festus Osifo.

During the discussions, Tinubu emphasized the importance of improving worker welfare, wages, and working conditions, stating, “A happy worker is a productive worker. And society depends on the productivity of the happy worker.” He acknowledged the need for realistic expectations and a more dynamic approach to minimum wage adjustments, saying, “You have to cut your coat according to available cloth. Before we can finalize on the minimum wage process, we have to look at the structure.”

Ajaero highlighted the difficulties faced by Nigerian workers and the need for a balance between a living wage and the minimum wage, noting, “Between the living wage and the minimum wage, we need to find a balance. Things are difficult for the Nigerian worker.” Osifo noted that inflation has eroded the value of the naira and stressed the importance of measures to address rising costs of food and transportation, saying, “We need to kick in to give citizens relief.”

Ajaero told reporters, “We didn’t go down there to talk naira and kobo.” The previous proposals of N62,000 (government) and N250,000 (labor) remain unchanged, and the parties agreed to reconvene in seven days after further consultations with stakeholders. The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, described the minimum wage deliberations as “a work in progress.”

Osifo said, “We commend you on the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court. History will not forget what has happened today. With this judgment, we believe Nigeria will make progress.”

In summary, the meeting between the president and labor leaders on the minimum wage issue was inconclusive, with both sides agreeing to further consultations and a reconvening in a week’s time to continue the discussions and find a mutually acceptable solution that addresses the concerns of workers and the economic realities of the country…Discover _More