The Nigerian Government on Tuesday offered N60,000 to organised Labour as a new national minimum wage at their resumed negotiations held at the Banquet hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja. With Labour’s refusal of the offer, the meeting was again stalemated.
Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has however, in a statement, appealed to organised labour to be considerate and patriotic in their demand in the ongoing negotiation for a new national minimum wage.
She stated that the government has been consistent in taking steps to secure a fair and realistic wage for Nigerian workers, and urged them to recognise that the nation’s economy was still on the path of recovery from the effect of the pandemic and other economic distress.
In her words, “We appeal to organised labour and indeed, other relevant stakeholders to be considerate and patriotic in their demands, recognising that our economy is still recovering from the devastating effects of the pandemic and other global economic shocks.
“We are committed to putting the people first and ensuring that our economic policies benefit all Nigerians, not just a select few.
“The government remains dedicated to prioritizing the well-being of our citizens and urge all relevant parties to demonstrate patriotism and understanding, particularly during this critical period when the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is working diligently to revitalise the economy”.
She acknowledged that the economic challenges Nigerians face are complex and multifaceted, saying that the government requires the collective effort of all stakeholders to overcome them.
“Today’s meeting with organised labour was a significant step in our ongoing efforts to secure a fair and realistic wage for Nigerian workers.
“As a government, we recognise the importance of ensuring that our citizens receive a decent standard of living, and we are committed to making this a reality.
“After hours of intense negotiations, labour leaders took a recess to consult with other key stakeholders and have pledged to return to the negotiating table for further discussion.
“We welcome this development and are optimistic that our continued engagement will yield a positive outcome.
“In light of the current economic conditions, we have made a concessionary move from N57,000 to N60,000.
“This increase is a demonstration of our willingness to listen to the concerns of labour and work towards a mutually beneficial agreement”, she said.
According to the Minister, government understands that the current economic landscape is challenging, and is doing everything in its power to mitigate its effects on citizens.
“President Tinubu has been tireless in his efforts to revitalise the economy and improve the standard of living for all Nigerians.
“His commitment to creating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and reducing poverty are genuine, and we appeal to all to support him in this endeavour.
“As we move forward, we will continue to engage with organised labour and other stakeholders to ensure that our economic policies are inclusive and beneficial to all.
“We recognise that the times are challenging, but we are confident that with the collective effort of all Nigerians, we can overcome any obstacle and build a brighter future for ourselves and future generations”, the Minister said.
Dominica Nwabufo
