President Bola Tinubu announced on Tuesday that he plans to consult with the 36 state governors and members of the organized private sector before finalizing the new national minimum wage, which will be submitted to the National Assembly as an Executive Bill.
This information was shared by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, during a briefing with State House correspondents following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which was presided over by President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to Minister Idris, a report on the new minimum wage was presented to the council but was deferred for further consultation. This decision underscores the necessity of engaging with state governors and the organized private sector due to the national implications of the minimum wage.
The Minister emphasized that a comprehensive consultation with all relevant stakeholders would enable the President to submit an informed figure for the national minimum wage to the National Assembly.
Previously, the Tripartite Committee meeting on the new national minimum wage saw the government and the organized private sector proposing an increase to N62,000 from the current N30,000. However, the organized labor groups, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), demanded a living wage of N250,000.
President Tinubu’s decision to consult further follows a statement by NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero, who had anticipated that the President would reach out to the Tripartite Committee members to reconcile the figures, especially since the last meeting ended in a stalemate.
During the briefing, Minister Idris stated, “The Federal Executive Council deliberated on the report of the Tripartite Committee on the New National Minimum Wage and decided that the matter requires further consultation. The new national minimum wage involves the federal, state, and local governments, as well as the organized private sector and labor unions.”
He added, “The President will consult with state governors and the organized private sector to ensure an informed position before presenting an executive bill to the National Assembly. The national minimum wage impacts multiple levels of government and sectors, and thus requires a collective approach.”
In conclusion, President Tinubu is committed to a thorough consultation process to achieve a well-rounded and representative national minimum wage proposal before it is submitted to the National Assembly.
