Benson Upah, Head of Public Relations for the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), criticised the FEC’s failure to consider the report during their meeting.
He stated that delaying the report “creates room for injurious speculations.”
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, explained that the FEC decided to postpone the memorandum to allow for more consultations between President Bola Tinubu, state governors, local government authorities, and the private sector.
Idris noted that the federal government is not the sole stakeholder in the national minimum wage issue.
The Federal Government, the Organised Private Sector (OPS), and Labour have held multiple meetings on the new minimum wage.
The NLC and Trade Union Congress leaders insist on N250,000, while the government, states, and OPS propose N62,000. State governors argue they cannot sustain a minimum wage higher than N60,000.
Assistant General Secretary of the NLC, Chris Onyeka, stated that Labour would not accept the N62,000 offer.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, mentioned they were waiting for the President’s consideration of Labour’s proposal.
Speaking at the opening of the 2024 Synod of the Charismatic Bishops Conference in Abuja, Idris underlined the need for a realistic wage system to prevent mass sacking while meeting workers’ needs.
He argued that the N250,000 proposal could harm the economy and lead to widespread job losses.
In his Democracy Day broadcast, President Tinubu promised to forward a bill on the new minimum wage to the National Assembly soon.
This statement drew the attention of Labour, which insisted that political officeholders should also receive the minimum wage.
Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu indicated that the President might send the minimum wage bill after the Sallah break, with the Senate resuming on July 2.
NLC Acting President Prince Adewale Adeyanju advised the President to ignore those he called sycophants and pay workers a living wage.
He debunked claims that a consensus had been reached between the government and Labour.
The Deputy National President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, urged the President to address the ‘grey areas’ before submitting the executive bill on the new minimum wage to the National Assembly.
The OPS warned that approving a wage above N62,000 could brought an industrial crisis and job losses.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
