The labor leaders set a deadline of Monday for the resolution of the negotiations on the new minimum wage.
The Federal Government, the Organized Private Sector, and Labor agreed on N62,000, while the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage finished its meetings last Friday. Labour requested N250,000.
In a statement, the Nigeria Governors Forum asserted that a minimum salary beyond N60,000 was unsustainable.
Labor leaders told our correspondents on Sunday that the parties were awaiting the President’s decision on the recommendations put out by the tripartite committee.
For security reasons, the labor leaders, who wished to remain anonymous, said that NLC President Joe Ajaero and other high-ranking union officials had departed the nation to attend a labor convention in Geneva, Switzerland, which was being hosted by the International Labour Organization.
Details were that upon their return from Geneva and in consideration of the president’s input, the labor leaders would convene their National Executive Council meeting and decide whether to proceed with the strike.
After we get back from Geneva, we should call a meeting of the National Executive Council to discuss the ultimatum. Although it is crucial that we attend, we are currently waiting amiably for the President to make his decision.
Organized Labor, which includes the TUC and NLC, went on a two-day statewide walkout last Monday and Tuesday in protest of the increase in electricity prices and in demand of a higher minimum wage for workers.
However, the labor leadership agreed to resume talks with the federal government and come up with a new minimum wage within a week, which resulted in a five-day suspension of the strike.
The walkout was put on hold after a six-hour meeting on Monday in Abuja between the National Assembly and the labor leadership.
The President gave Wale Edun, the Finance Minister, instructions on Tuesday to expedite the talks by presenting the financial consequences of a new minimum wage within two days.
In order to establish a new, reasonable salary award for Nigerians, Tinubu also gave the government representatives instructions to collaborate with the organized private sector and the sub-nationals.
Along with Atiku Bagudu, the minister of budget and national planning, the finance minister presented Tinubu with the financial effects of enacting a new national minimum wage on Thursday in the Presidential Villa.
It was stated that the president would make an official announcement after examining the idea.
