Nigerians were disappointed today when the Federal Executive Council (FEC) – the highest decision-making body of Nigeria’s Executive branch of government, on Tuesday failed to announce the much-awaited minimum wage offer. The memorandum on the report of the Tripartite Committee on New National Minimum Wage, sent to the president and billed for discussion, was said to have been stood down for further consultation.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this to newsmen after the FEC meeting Tuesday. He said President Bola Tinubu wanted more time to consult wider on the issue.
He stated that the Council concurred based on the fact that the issue of the national minimum wage is not just for the consideration of the federal government but also involves other stakeholders including the state governments, as well as the organized private sector.
The last two have been known to oppose any figure above N60,000 even if the federal government was willing to go higher.
But the labor unions had warned that they were not parties to whatever figures were being bandied around as recommendations of the Tripartite Committee, of which the two umbrella labor organizations, NLC and TUC, are members.
Will Unions Return To Strike
Weeks ago, the media was awash with reports that the Minister of Economy, Wale Edu had recommended a minimum wage of N105,000 per month to the president. Labour advised the government not to even think of going less than N250,000. It had begun its negotiation earlier in the year at N617,000, citing hyperinflation, which had rubbished the last minimum wage of N30,000 agreed upon in 2019.
The unions have not responded to this latest news, but technically, they are still on strike, having only “relaxed” their nationwide industrial action on June 3, just two days after it commenced. They did so when national leaders warned the strike was hurting the economy and since government was willing to negotiate further.
It is unclear whether workers are prepared to endure another round of tough negotiations while the old salary structure lingers.
It must be noted however that on Workers Day on May 1, the government through the Minister of Employment and Productivity, Mrs Nkiruka Onyejiocha, promised that whatever wage is ultimately agreed upon will be backdated to take effect from May 2024.
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