Organised Labour, encompassing the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has firmly rejected any minor additions to the proposed N60,000 minimum wage by the tripartite committee.
This declaration came from TUC President Festus Osifo on Tuesday, shortly after the labour unions suspended their industrial action initiated at midnight on Monday.
Osifo revealed that while the tripartite committee initially refused to exceed N60,000, a recent meeting saw the President commit to a higher figure. Previously, the committee, including the Federal Government, states, and the Organised Private Sector, offered N48,000, then N54,000, N57,000, and finally N60,000—all of which were rejected by the unions.
Osifo stressed that Labour would not settle for incremental additions of a few thousand naira, demanding a more substantial and economically realistic offer that reflects the current inflationary pressures. While not specifying an exact amount, he insisted that the new minimum wage should match the purchasing power of N30,000 in 2019 and N18,000 in 2014.
Criticizing the Attorney General of the Federation for labeling the strike as “premature” and “illegal,” Osifo noted that the government had been given a month’s notice since Workers’ Day on May 1, 2024. He asserted that the brief strike succeeded in drawing national attention to workers’ demands.
Following discussions, the Organised Labour suspended their nationwide strike after the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, announced President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to a minimum wage above N60,000. The President also tasked the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, with presenting a new wage template by Wednesday.
