Labour unions have been advised to reevaluate their pay demands by the tripartite committee that was constituted by the federal government to review the minimum wage.
The head of the committee, Bukar Aji, urged labour to reevaluate their stance in light of the government’s non-monetary incentives and economic considerations in an interview with NAN on Sunday.
Aji outlined various government incentives, such as the N35,000 wage award for all federal employees paid by the Treasury, N100 billion for the conversion of gas-powered buses and kits, a N125 billion conditional grant, financial inclusion for small and medium-sized businesses, and a N25,000 monthly stipend for 15 million households spread over three months.
He also listed the N185 billion in palliative loans to states to mitigate the effects of petrol subsidy removal, N200 billion to boost agricultural production, N75 billion to strengthen the manufacturing sector, and N1 trillion for student loans, among other interventions.
Aji called on the labour unions to consider accepting the N62,000 minimum wage offered by the federal government.
He said the committee is trying to avert a situation where the minimum wage would lead to further job losses, especially as many businesses are already struggling.
Recall that in January 2024, the federal government inaugurated a 37-member tripartite committee on the national minimum wage.
The committee was tasked with the responsibility of recommending a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
Over the past few months, the federal and state governments, organised labour and representatives of the private sector have been deliberating on a mutually acceptable sum.
However, the demand by organised labour is yet to be met.
On June 3, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) embarked on a nationwide strike to protest the federal government’s inability to meet their demand.
Twenty-four hours later, the labour unions “relaxed” the strike by one week.
Both unions had earlier proposed N615,500 and N494,000, respectively, as the new minimum wage, which the federal government said was unrealistic.
On June 7, the federal government increased its offer from N60,000 to N62,000, while the labour unions insisted on N250,000.
