The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has shed light on the reasons behind the acceptance of a new minimum wage of N70,000 by the Organized Labour. The decision was reached after discussions with President Bola Tinubu, held at the State House.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting on Thursday, Ajaero highlighted that the unions agreed to the proposed minimum wage due to several key incentives provided by the President.
One of the major factors was the commitment to review the minimum wage every three years, a departure from the previous, less frequent adjustments.
President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the approval of the new wage, stating that the President had unveiled the plan during a meeting with the Labour leaders in Abuja. This meeting marked the second engagement between the President and the Labour unions within a week.
Onanuga, via his official X handle, @aonanuga, detailed the new policy at 03:31 pm, saying, “Breaking: President Bola Tinubu has approved N70,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers with promise to review the national minimum wage law every three years.” He added that the President also pledged to support both the private sector and state governments in meeting the new wage requirements.
The new wage, set to replace the current N30,000 minimum wage that expired on April 18, 2024, will come into effect once it receives approval from the National Assembly. This change signifies a significant increase, aiming to improve the living standards of Nigerian workers.
The NLC and other Labour leaders expressed their appreciation for the President’s “fatherly gesture.” Furthermore, President Tinubu assured that he would address the demands of university unions, particularly regarding the settlement of unpaid salaries spanning four months.
