Labour Gives Reasons For Accepting N70,000 Minimum Wage

Organised labour has given reasons for accepting N70,000 minimum wage approved by the Nigerian government on Thursday.

Prime Business Africa reports that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, had after a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at the State House, Abuja, announced that both Government and the Labour have now agreed for N70,000 as minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

Speaking to newsmen after the meeting with  President Tinubu, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said labour unions accepted the offer of N70,000 because of other incentives attached.

He added that they agreed to the offer because the president promised to review the wage every three years, contrary to what was obtained in the past.

Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the President also promised to find ways to assist the private sector and the sub-nationals to pay the minimum wage.

Onanuga’s post on X announcing the new minimum wage read: “Breaking: President Bola Tinubu has approved  N70,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers with promise to review the national minimum wage law every three years.

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“President Tinubu also promised to find ways to assist the private sector and the sub-nationals to pay the minimum wage.

“President Tinubu announced the decisions at the meeting held with leaders of TUC and NLC on Thursday in Abuja, the second time the parties met in 7 days.

“The Labour leaders applauded President Tinubu for the fatherly gesture as the President also promised to use his discretionary powers to meet the demands of university unions demanding unpaid four months salaries.”

The meeting held with leaders of TUC and NLC on Thursday in Abuja, where the decision was announced, was the second time the parties met in seven days.

Prior to the latest development, Labour had insisted on N250,000 minimum wage while the federal government offered to pay N62,000.

The new wage replaces the N30,000 minimum wage which expired on 18th April 2024.