Ajaero confirms N70,000 new minimum wage but says he will consult

Ajaero confirms N70,000 new minimum wage but says he will consult

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero has confirmed that the organised labour was part of the discussion with President Bola Tinubu, where N70,000 was approved as a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

He however said the labour group would consult with members on the issue.

“We were here last week. And we are here now. What they have announced in terms of the amount of ₦70,000 happens to be where we are now.

“But the thing about it is that we will not wait for another five years to come and agree,” Ajaero said.

Minister of Information Mohammed Idris had earlier told State House correspondents that the Federal Government and the leadership of the organised labour agreed on the ₦70,000 new minimum wage for workers.

The minister said the agreement was reached at a meeting between President Tinubu and the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Thursday in Abuja.

“We are happy to announce today (Thursday) that both the organised labour and the Federal Government have agreed on an increase on the N62,000 minimum wage.

“The new national minimum that Mr President is expected to submit to the National Assembly is ₦70,000,” Idris said.

Ajaero, the TUC President Festus Osifo, Labour Minister Nkiruka Onyejeocha, and other officials from both sides flanked the minister, while he was talking to journalists in Abuja.

The ‘agreement’ between the two groups followed a series of talks between labour leaders and the President in the last few weeks after months of failed talks between labour organs and a tripartite committee on minimum wage constituted by the President in January.

The minimum wage committee, comprising state and federal governments and the organised private sector, had proposed ₦62,000 while labour insisted on ₦250,000 as the new minimum wage for workers who currently earn ₦30,000 as minimum wage.

Last Thursday, the President met with labour leaders and called for realistic expectations as minimum wage.