In a tense and pivotal meeting at the Presidential Villa, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) stood firm on their unwavering demand for a new minimum wage of N250,000, rebuffing the tripartite committee’s proposed figures of N62,000 and N250,000.
President Bola Tinubu’s diplomatic intervention aimed to broker a compromise, but the labour unions remained unyielding, refusing to back down from their stance.
According to NLC President Joe Ajaero, “We didn’t go there to talk about naira and kobo… the status quo remains.
We agreed to look at the real terms and reconvene next week.” He emphasized that the meeting was a discussion, not a negotiation, signaling that the labour unions are prepared to hold their ground.
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TUC leader Festus Osifo echoed Ajaero’s sentiments, stating, “We put the issues on the table… the economic difficulties, erosion of the naira’s value, and its impact on commodity prices.
We made all the arguments, economic analysis, macro, micro, fiscal, and monetary issues. We tried to put these before Mr. President because he is the President of the country, and the buck stops with him.”
The meeting, though inconclusive, marked a significant step in the ongoing minimum wage saga. The government, optimistic about reaching a resolution by next week, faces an uphill task in convincing the labour unions to budge from their stance.
As the standoff continues, the President’s decision on the minimum wage remains pending, leaving the nation awaiting a resolution to this pressing issue.
