President Bola Tinubu has proposed a plan that will see the minimum wage of Nigerian workers adjusted at a shorter interval of two or three years, instead of every five years.
The president unveiled the plan while expressing his concern for the welfare of Nigerian workers, whilst calling for realistic expectations regarding the minimum wage.
The proposal came to the fore at a meeting with members of organized labour on the new minimum wage at the State House.
In attendance at the meeting were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, some ministers, heads of agencies, and aides to the president.
Speaking during the meeting, President Tinubu said, “I pay attention to everything around me. A happy worker is a productive worker, and society depends on the productivity of the happy worker. You have to cut your clothes according to the available clothes.
“Before we can finalize the minimum wage process, we have to look at the structure. Why must we adjust wages every 5 years? Why not two? Why not three years? What is a problem today can be eased up tomorrow. We can take a surgical approach that is based on pragmatism and a deep understanding of all factors”.
On his part, the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, said, “As has been said in the meeting, we try to put issues on the table, issues that are biting Nigerians, the economic difficulties, and how the value of the Naira has also eroded.
“How this has affected the prices of commodities and goods in the market”.
Joe Ajaero, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) explained that in real terms, it was not a negotiation but a discussion which had reached an agreement. He noted that the status quo in terms of the amounts, N250,000 and N62,000, would remain until the conversation was finished.
The Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha reacted to the meeting by saying, “When father and children talk, you know what it is. That’s just exactly what has happened, and it took us almost like an hour. I believe that it’s all for good”.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris has said that the President was keeping to his promise to consult.
He emphasized, “He doesn’t just want to take any decision. It’s a decision that affects all of us, so he is consulting with the sub-nationals. Consultation with the organized private sector is ongoing. You have also seen that this consultation with organized labour has also happened today. They’ve asked for a week. Like I said earlier, we’re going to meet with them again. Hopefully, we’ll have something that all of us will agree on.”
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