Nigeria is set to have a new national minimum wage as the Tripartite Committee set up by the federal government on Monday, submitted its report to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
This was disclosed in statement signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations in office of the SGF, Segun Imohiosen.
He said the that a formal presentation of the Report will be made to President Bola Tinubu for appropriate action, when the leadership of the Organised Labour as well as representatives of Government and Organised Private Sector, who are presently in Geneva, Switzerland for the ongoing International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conference, return to the country.
The SGF thanked the Chairman of the Committee, Bukar Goni Aji and members for their commitment and sacrifices.
This development comes after weeks of negotiations and a nationwide strike by organized labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), demanding a new minimum wage and reversal of the electricity tariff hike.
According to the labour unions, the current minimum wage of ₦30,000 is insufficient to cater to the well-being of an average Nigerian worker, given the current inflationary pressures.
Although the labour unions initially demanded ₦494,000, they later reduced their demand to ₦250,000. Meanwhile, the government offered ₦62,000 an increase from its initial proposals of ₦57,000 and ₦60,000.
Tinubu had inaugurated a 37-Member Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage, on Tuesday 30th January 2024, in accordance with the provisions of the Minimum Wage Act, 2019.
The Committee was tasked with the responsibility of recommending a new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers in public and private sectors.
