By Busari Kabirat
The long awaited discussion over the new minimum wage between the Organized Labour and the Federal Government is expected to end today Monday 20, June 2024, as the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress leaders gave a Monday deadline for the conclusion and awaits the President’s decision on their N250,000 request.
The Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage as at last Friday concluded their meeting on the ground that the Federal Government and the Organized Private Sector agreed on N62,000 while N250,000 was demanded by Labour and the Nigeria Governors Forum on their own in an issued statement said, anything beyond N60,000 can not be sustainable by them.
However, labour leaders made it known that the Union awaits the President to decide on the proposals presented by the tripartite committee.
According to the NLC President said, “We have submitted the report to the president and we are waiting for him to make his decision. That is the most important thing and that is what we are all waiting for.
“As it stands some of us are on the way to Geneva for the ILO conference. Some of us are going today (Sunday), some have gone already while others w“Before we can even hold a NEC meeting, we must come back from Geneva first. Also, we are trying to be careful so the government won’t say Labour is inciting citizens against the government. Also, you know they are in charge of the military so we are trying to be careful about that. This is why we are waiting,” a top NLC official said.
When asked about Monday’s ultimatum, another source within the NLC said, “Well, we have sent a report to the committee and we are expecting the president to act on it.
“We should hold a National Executive Council meeting regarding the ultimatum when we return from Geneva. It is very important for us to be there but right now, we are patiently waiting for the decision of Mr President.”
The president was said to be reviewing the proposal, after which he would make an official announcement.
