Finally, TUC President Discloses 2 ‘Achievements’ as FG, Labour Reach Agreement on New Minimum Wage

Festus Osifo, the president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has said the organised labour never wanted to go on strike but their hands were forced. ..Read Full Article

Osifo said:

“After meeting with the leaders of the national assembly, we met with the SGF (George Akume) and the federal government team yesterday (Monday, June 3). So, during that meeting, two things were achieved principally: one of the items that was (sic) achieved was that remember the meeting on Friday, they said they would not add more to the N60,000. But in a meeting of yesterday (Monday, June 3), they were able to commit, Mr President was able to commit to say that they are committed to doing what is more than sixty thousand.”

TUC President, Festus Osifo says Labour never wanted to go on strike but their hands were forced. He also stated that the meeting with the government yesterday was able to achieve two items; an increase in the FG's 60,000 proposal and a week for execution#PoliticsToday pic.twitter.com/lRGzmYCpIz

— Channels Television (@channelstv) June 4, 2024

He added:

“Number two as well, we also agreed that it is going to be within one week, that within one week, they are going to dispense with this. That was a big improvement from what the national assembly leadership proposed on Sunday, June 2, that we should give them eight weeks. So, from eight weeks to one week.

“If what was achieved yesterday (Monday, June 3) was achieved on Sunday, there was no need to start action (strike), because we are not really happy, that is the last resort that we go into.”

an increase in the FG’s 60,000 proposal a week for execution

It would be recalled that the federal government and organised labour on Monday, June 3, agreed on the fixing of a new minimum wage that is above N60,000.

The agreement was reached at the end of a meeting held between leaders of the TUC, the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC), and representatives of the Bola Tinubu administration.

The meeting was called by the federal government after labour commenced an indefinite nationwide strike on Monday, June 3, to demand a living wage.

George Akume, the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), who read the resolutions reached at the end of the meeting, said, “President Tinubu is committed to a national minimum wage that is higher than N60,000”.

Osifo said the organised labour wants a reasonable increment.