Labour Vows to Reject Minimal Increases to ₦60,000 Minimum Wage Offer

 

TUC President, Festus Osifo

The Organised Labour has firmly stated that it will not accept any minor additions to the ₦60,000 minimum wage proposed by the tripartite committee. This announcement was made by the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday.

 

This declaration follows the suspension of an industrial action initiated by the Organised Labour, which includes the TUC and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). The strike, which began at 12:01 am on Monday, was put on hold hours before Osifo's statement.

 

Osifo explained, “At the meeting on Friday, the tripartite committee stated they wouldn't add anything more to the ₦60,000. However, in Monday's meeting, Mr President committed to exceeding the ₦60,000 offer.”

 

Before the strike, the tripartite committee, consisting of representatives from the Federal Government, states, and the Organised Private Sector, made several offers to Labour: ₦48,000, ₦54,000, ₦57,000, and finally ₦60,000, all of which were rejected by the TUC and NLC.

 

When questioned about the possibility of accepting a slight increase beyond the committee's last offer, Osifo responded, “No, we made it clear that we wouldn't accept minor additions like ₦1,000 or ₦2,000. We received assurances that they would propose something substantial.”

 

Osifo emphasized that while the Organised Labour is not insisting on ₦494,000 as the new minimum wage, the committee must present a realistic and substantial offer that reflects current inflationary pressures. He noted that the new minimum wage should match the purchasing power of ₦30,000 in 2019 and ₦18,000 in 2014.

 

He also criticized the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, for labeling the industrial action as “premature” and “illegal.” Osifo argued that the Organised Labour had given the government a one-month notice during this year’s Workers’ Day on May 1, 2024, which expired on May 31, 2024.

 

Osifo highlighted that the brief strike had succeeded in drawing national attention to workers' demands. “This strike has awoken everybody. Between now and the next week, all focus will be on the tripartite committee. That was our goal, and we have achieved it,” he said.

 

The Organised Labour had relaxed the nationwide strike after the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, conveyed President Bola Tinubu's commitment to a national minimum wage above ₦60,000. President Tinubu also instructed the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, to present a template for a new minimum wage by Wednesday.