Organised Labour Submits Fresh Proposal For Minimum Wage

Organised Labour has put forward a new proposal of N497,000 as the minimum wage, while the Federal Government and the Organised Private Sector (OPS) have jointly suggested N57,000.

Gatekeepers News reports The Punch’s source confirmed the update following the recent tripartite committee meeting on minimum wage.

The 37-member Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage, inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu on January 30, 2024, aims to determine a new national minimum wage before the current N30,000 expires on April 18.

The committee comprises representatives from federal and state governments, the private sector, and organised labour.

During the inauguration, Vice President Kashim Shettima urged the committee to expedite their resolution and submit their report promptly, emphasizing the importance of a timely submission for the emergence of a new minimum wage.

To facilitate their task, zonal public hearings were held simultaneously on March 7 in six locations across the country.

Various figures were proposed as a living wage by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in different states, citing the current economic challenges and high costs of living.

While proposals ranged from N794,000 in the South-West to N850,000 in the South-South, organised labour ultimately settled on N615,000 as a living wage.

However, the latest development sees labour proposing N497,000, significantly lower than their initial suggestion.

The contrasting proposals from the Federal Government and OPS, at N57,000, highlight the ongoing negotiations and the need for a mutually acceptable figure.