Minimum wage talks remain unresolved, says Ajaero, as presidency denies N105,000 proposal rumor.
With just days left before the expiration of the five-day ultimatum set by organized labor, negotiations over a new minimum wage remain unresolved as government officials failed to present their proposal to the tripartite committee.
Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), expressed disappointment after Thursday’s meeting, revealing that the federal government had yet to submit any report or new proposal. He noted, “The committee is still working, and when they finish, Nigerians will get the report.”
Despite the lack of progress, Ajaero remains hopeful that the government team will present their proposal on Friday for deliberation. He dismissed rumors of a N105,000 minimum wage offer, stating that no such information had been officially or unofficially communicated.
This position was echoed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Communication and Strategy, who urged Nigerians to disregard the false information.
Earlier, Finance Minister Wale Edun submitted a report to President Bola Tinubu detailing the cost implications of the new minimum wage. The report was prepared by Edun and Budget Minister Atiku Bagudu, who reassured Nigerians to “expect a good figure.”
The organized labor had paused an indefinite nationwide strike to allow the government time to propose an acceptable minimum wage. The strike was initially called to address economic hardships stemming from fuel subsidy removal, which had significantly raised inflation and living costs in Nigeria.
The NLC’s initial demand for a N615,000 minimum wage was adjusted to N494,000 during negotiations. In contrast, the federal government’s offers of N54,000, N57,000, and finally N60,000 were rejected by labor as insufficient.
Auwal Musa (Rafsanjani), a civil rights activist, emphasized the need for the federal government to approve a minimum wage that alleviates the suffering of Nigerian workers, noting that labor had shown goodwill and maturity in the negotiations. He also urged the private sector to pay a living wage, arguing that their profitability indicates they can afford to do so.
“The government must reduce waste, looting of public funds, and demonstrate goodwill. A good wage is not above this government,” Musa said.
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