President Bola Tinubu recently suggested that wages should be adjusted every two or three years instead of the current five-year interval. This proposal, aimed at improving the welfare of Nigerian workers, was shared during a meeting with members of organized labour at the State House. Present at the meeting were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, several ministers, heads of agencies, and presidential aides.
The meeting was part of the president’s initiative to engage more with stakeholders before making a final decision on the new minimum wage. President Tinubu emphasized the importance of worker satisfaction, stating, “A happy worker is a productive worker, and society depends on the productivity of the happy worker. We need to be pragmatic and understand all factors before finalizing the minimum wage process.”
Stakeholders in the meeting discussed the economic challenges affecting the minimum wage. Festus Osifo, President of the Trade Union Congress, highlighted issues such as the economic difficulties and the devaluation of the Naira, which has impacted commodity prices. Joe Ajaero, leader of the Nigeria Labour Congress, noted that the discussion had led to an agreement to maintain the current amounts of N250,000 and N62,000 until further conversations were concluded.
Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, described the meeting as positive and likened it to a discussion between a father and his children. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, underscored the president’s commitment to consulting widely before making any decisions.
The Nigerian public is now looking forward to the conclusion of these engagements and the subsequent decision on wage adjustments.
