Organised Labour reveals next move after rejecting N62K minimum wage offer

The Organised Labour comprising of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) is awaiting President Bola Tinubu’s decision on the newly proposed ₦62,000 minimum wage.

Recall that the Tripartite Committee on Friday increased the new minimum wage offer from N60,000 to N62,000.

But the TUC President, Festus Osifo immediately rejected the figure, stating that Labour would not accept anything less than ₦250,000 as a fair minimum wage.

Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) stated that Tinubu’s verdict would determine Organised Labour’s next move.

President Bola Tinubu is expected to study the proposal and send a bill to the National Assembly for the final consideration of the new national minimum wage Act.

In a chat with The Nation, Ajaero stated that Labour is prepared to wait for the President to consult further before making his decision public.

He recalled how the current ₦30,000 minimum wage was set, noting that a lower figure had initially been suggested before being raised by the then-president prior to legislative approval.

Meanwhile, State Governors who are not willing to pay N60,000 as minimum wage have been advised by the Organised Labour to resign immediately.

The governors under the auspices of the Nigerian Governors Forum had earlier rejected the N60,000 minimum wage proposal, saying it was too high and they could not sustain it.

They declared that they will not pay more than N57,000 as the minimum wage.

Reacting on Saturday, the Organised Labour knocked the state governors, describing their position as harmful to the welfare of economically vulnerable groups.