The Federal Government’s proposal of a N60,000 minimum wage has been rejected by organized labour, which includes the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). The proposal was made during a meeting of the tripartite committee on minimum wage held in Abuja on Tuesday.
The government had initially proposed N57,000 but increased the offer by N3,000 to reach N60,000. In response, the labour unions reduced their initial demand by N3,000, from N497,000 to N494,000. However, this revised government offer did not sit well with the labour leaders.
A union member, who preferred to remain anonymous, emphasized that the labour unions were willing to negotiate but expected a more reasonable offer from the government. “This is simply a case of if they go higher, we will go lower. They need to propose something reasonable for us to propose something lower too. There is no two-way about it,” the labour leader stated.
The source further explained the unions’ strategy, highlighting the importance of internal discussions before engaging with the government. “We have a way of meeting as members of the Labour before each committee meeting. This helps us to take a uniform stand by the time we get to the meeting front. So as long as the government is ready to present something reasonable, we will meet them in the middle,” he added.
The standoff continues as both parties struggle to find a middle ground on the new minimum wage, with the labour unions adamant that the government’s current offer falls short of their expectations. The outcome of these negotiations remains crucial for millions of Nigerian workers awaiting an improved wage structure amidst rising living costs.