………..SaysTinubu, Unions agreed on three years periodic review
………… NLC, TUC to get 36 CNG buses
BY MYKE UZENDU and DAVID ADUGE — ANI
Leaders of the organised labour, bowed to pressure on Thursday when they accepted federal government’s offer of N70,000 new minimum wage
The new wage, which was arrived at after series of meetings with the representatives of the federal government, including the Ministers of Labour and Employment, Hon Nkiru Onyejiocha, and Minister of Information Alhaji Mohammed Idris
The organized labour was represented by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), presidents, Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo respectively
Labour confirmed their acceptance of the N70,000 minimum wage offered by the Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government, after a crucial meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja,
NLC president, Comrade Joe Ajaero, who confirmed the decision to journalists, said the unions accepted the federal government t the offer, after it received assurances of periodic review from the president.
Flanked by Comrade Festus Usifo, President of the TUC, and other representatives of Nigerian workers, Ajaero pointed out that the unions agreed to the offer due to the additional incentives attached.
He noted that a significant factor in their decision was the President’s promise to review the minimum wage every three years, a departure from previous practices.
The labour leaders had initially demanded a minimum wage of no less than N250,000. However, the agreed amount, coupled with the promise of periodic reviews, persuaded the unions to accept the N70,000 offer.
President Bola Tinubu approved N70,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers with promise to review the national minimum wage law every three years, his special adviser on strategic communications, Bayo Onanuga has said.
Special Assistant to the president on Media,, Bayo Onanuga who who broke the agreement through a post his X, said that President Tinubu also promised to find ways to assist the private sector and the sub-nationals to pay the minimum wage.
President Tinubu announced the decisions at the meeting held with leaders of TUC and NLC on Thursday in Abuja, the second time the parties met in 7 days.
The Labour leaders according to Onanuga applauded President Tinubu for the fatherly gesture as the President also promised to use his discretionary powers meet the demands of university unions demanding unpaid 4 months salaries.
Onanuga also mentioned that the president confirmed he would soon review the four-month salary of the university union in the country.
“President Bola Tinubu has approved N70,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers with promise to review the national minimum wage law every three years.
“President Tinubu also promised to find ways to assist the private sector and the sub-nationals to pay the minimum wage.
“President Tinubu announced the decisions at the meeting held with leaders of TUC and NLC on Thursday in Abuja, the second time the parties met in 7 days.
“The Labour leaders applauded President Tinubu for the fatherly gesture as the President also promised to use his discretionary powers meet the demands of university unions demanding unpaid 4 months salaries.”
It is crucial to note the ongoing negotiations between the federal government and organized labour regarding the new minimum wage.
Recall that several metings between the federal government and organized labour had ended without any agreement as labourt had insisted on N250,000, while federal government earlier proposed N62, 000, resulting in a deadlock between both parties
The leaders of organised labour earlier met with President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, July 11, at the presidential villa over the proposal of a new minimum wage.
Following their arrival, both parties had an hour-long meeting over the new minimum wage.
The meeting was later adjourned till next week, with the president of NLC, Joe Ajaero insisting that the status quo of N250,000 minimum wage demand remains unchanged.
Onanuga further disclosed that part of the agreement president Bola Tinubu reached with labour was approval to release 36 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses with 100 seating capacity to the labour unions in Nigeria, to reduce the transportation challenges faced by Nigerian workers, as well as ease the high cost of living for workers.