On Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu announced his intention to consult with the 36 state governors and members of the organized private sector before determining the new minimum wage figure to be submitted to the National Assembly in the form of an Executive Bill.
This information was disclosed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, during a briefing with State House correspondents following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which was presided over by President Tinubu at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Minister explained that although a memo on the report of the new minimum wage was presented to the council, it was temporarily set aside. He emphasized that the minimum wage is a national issue that involves input from state governors and the organized private sector.
After broader consultations with these relevant stakeholders, the President, armed with informed knowledge, will then propose a figure to be adopted as the national minimum wage.
This decision follows the conclusion of the Tripartite Committee meeting on the new national minimum wage, where the government team and the organized private sector proposed an increase to N62,000 from the current N30,000. However, the organized labour, represented by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), advocated for a N250,000 living wage.
The President’s plan for wider consultation comes in the wake of a statement by the President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, who expressed disappointment that the President had not yet reached out to the members of the Tripartite Committee to harmonize the figures. Comrade Ajaero highlighted that the Tripartite Committee meeting had ended in a stalemate.
During the briefing, Minister Mohammed Idris elaborated on the council’s deliberations, stating, “The Federal Executive Council deliberated on the report of the Tripartite Committee on the New National Minimum Wage. The decision is that because the new national minimum wage is not just an issue for the federal government, but also involves state governments, local governments, the organized private sector, and organized labour, the memo was stepped down to allow Mr. President to consult further.”
He continued, “Mr. President will consult especially with the state governors and the organized private sector before making a presentation to the National Assembly. This is to ensure an informed position is taken because the new national minimum wage affects all levels of government and the private sector.”
In conclusion, Minister Idris reinforced the need for comprehensive consultations, reiterating that the national minimum wage is not solely a federal matter. President Tinubu will thoroughly study the report and seek extensive input before making the final submission to the National Assembly.
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