The Federal Government has reassured workers that despite ongoing negotiations by the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage, the new minimum wage will be implemented starting from May 1, 2024.
Addressing Nigerian workers during the May Day celebration in Abuja, the Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, emphasized that while the negotiations are ongoing, workers will not experience any delay in the implementation of the new minimum wage.
Onyejeocha acknowledged the delay in finalizing the new national minimum wage but assured that extensive consultations are underway to expedite the process and ensure the timely release of the document.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have consistently urged the administration of President Bola Tinubu to expedite the upward review of wage awards. Recently, organized labor proposed N615,000 as the new minimum wage to address the economic realities and high cost of living in Nigeria.
Expressing concern, the labor unions highlighted that the current minimum wage of N30,000 is insufficient to meet the needs of the average Nigerian worker. They also lamented that not all governors are adhering to the current wage award, which expired in April, five years after the Minimum Wage Act of 2019 was signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to the Act, a review is mandated every five years to align with the evolving economic landscape and cater to the welfare of workers.
Further details are expected to be provided later.
