Nigerian workers hoping for a new national minimum wage to alleviate the current cost of living crisis will face further delays. The federal government announced that President Bola Tinubu will conduct additional consultations before making a decision.
Information Minister Mohammed Idris informed State House correspondents of this development after President Tinubu chaired the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Idris stated that although the tripartite committee had submitted its report to the president, the complexity of the issue requires more discussions. He explained that the FEC had deliberated on the matter but chose to postpone an immediate decision to allow for input from all stakeholders, including state governments and private sector representatives.
Idris emphasized the importance of considering various perspectives given that the national minimum wage affects all levels of government and the private sector. “That memo was stepped down to enable Mr. President to consult further, especially with the state governors and the organized private sector, before he makes a presentation to the National Assembly,” he said.
The Labour movement had previously gone on a two-day strike on June 3, 2024, over the failure of the tripartite committee to agree on a new minimum wage and to reverse the electricity tariff hike. Whenever an agreement is reached, the new minimum wage will be implemented retroactively from May 2024.
### New Minimum Wage Expected by August – TUC
Meanwhile, the organized labour hinted that the new national minimum wage might be finalized by early August 2024. Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) President, Comrade Festus Osifo, revealed this during a meeting with officials from the Kogi State government in Abuja.
Osifo called for urgency in updating the minimum wage to address the economic challenges faced by Nigerian workers, particularly in light of rising living costs. He stated that the TUC and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) were working diligently to ensure that the new minimum wage bill progresses swiftly through the National Assembly and receives presidential assent by the end of July or early August.
Osifo urged state governments to prepare for the new wage implementation, citing Nasarawa State’s proactive steps in setting aside funds for future obligations. He assured that the TUC would monitor the state-by-state implementation once the new wage act is passed.
He emphasized the importance of prioritizing the new minimum wage amid revenue challenges. “What we are working on, from both labour centres, is that before the end of July, we should have a new minimum wage that must have passed through the processes and been assented to by the president so that the plight of the workers will improve much more,” he said.
Osifo added that the new minimum wage act, expected by late July or early August, would significantly improve workers’ ability to afford basic necessities despite soaring inflation. He stressed that prompt salary payments benefit both workers and the state’s economy by stimulating spending on goods and services.
On his part, Comrade Onuh Edoka, special adviser on labour matters to the Kogi State governor, outlined several labour-friendly initiatives under Governor Usman Ododo’s administration. He assured that workers’ rights and interests would be adequately protected and promoted.
