By Abiola Olawale
Following the decision of the representatives of the Federal Government in the Tripartite committee on minimum wage to set the new minimum wage at N62,000, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has stated that it is awaiting the decision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in order to take firm decision as a body going forward.
The union said the decision of Tinubu on the ongoing talks for a new minimum wage would determine its next line of action.
The New Diplomat reports that organised labour including NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) went on a nationwide strike last Monday. The strike was however relaxed for a week to allow for negotiations with the federal government.
However, the meeting which was held on Friday ended in another stalemate as the Federal Government proposed N62,000 as the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
The organized labour rejected the proposal, tendering their proposal of N250,000 as minimum wage, shifting ground from its earlier demand of N494,000.
Speaking with the press on the development, President of NLC Joe Ajaero, said that labour was awaiting the President’s response to the recommendation adopted at the Friday meeting of the Tripartite Committee on the new minimum wage in Abuja.
He noted that the President’s response would determine whether the unions would continue their strike or call it off totally.
Ajaero said he expected the President to make further consultation on the committee’s recommendation before taking a final decision on the minimum wage by way of an Executive Bill to be sent to the National Assembly.
“We’ll wait for the harmonisation of such consultation,” he said.
