Here Is What Tinubu Told Labour Leaders During Their Meeting

The details of President Bola Tinubu’ s meeting with Labour Leaders has been revealed. ..Read Full Article

It is to be recalled that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president, Joe Ajaero; his counterpart at the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, and other members of their delegation paid a visit to the president over their unmet demands. The Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, took to X and shared details of the meeting.

According to him, the President on Thursday, appealed to organized labour to accept the ₦62, 000 figure as the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

According to Onanuga, President Tinubu also questioned why wages have to be adjusted every five years and not two or three years.
The President, who led the government officials to the meeting, urged labour to accept the negotiated ₦62, 000 as the first baby step in resolving the minimum wage issue. He suggested that further reviews can be done if the minimum wage law is reviewed.

‘ Why must we adjust wages every five years? Why not two, why not three years? What is a problem today, can be eased up tomorrow” , he said.

Onanuga also confirmed that delegates for the meeting also received briefings on the state of the economy from the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun and the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari during the meeting.

The presidential media aide confirmed that labour is still insisting on a minimum monthly wage of N250, 000.
He said, ” I remember mentioning that we didn’ t go into Naria and kobo discussion. Now the status quo in terms of the amount N250, 000 and N62, 000 remains until we finish this conversation. ”

Ajaero said their consultations with the Presidency will continue next week as they also have to go back to their organs to relay what the President discussed with them.

He added, ” In the real sense, it wasn’ t a negotiation but a discussion; and we have had that discussion. We agreed to look at the real terms probably and reconvene in the next one week. So, that’ s where we are. Because we didn’ t go down there to talk naira and kobo. At least, there were some basic issues that we agreed on. ”

The talks between the Federal Government and the central labour unions over the minimum wage were adjourned till next Thursday