Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, says an executive bill on the new minimum wage bill will be sent to the national assembly after President Bola Tinubu meets with organised labour on Thursday.
On July 11, leaders of organised labour met with Tinubu at
the presidential villa over the new minimum wage.
Labour has insisted on a N250,000 minimum wage ahead of the
meeting with the president.
On June 3, the labour unions grounded the nation’s economy
over the minimum wage dispute.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress
(TUC) had proposed N494,000 as the new national minimum wage, citing inflation
and the prevailing economic hardship in the country.
The organised labour had rejected the N62,000 minimum wage
proposed by the government.
At the last meeting of the tripartite committee, organised
labour lowered its demand to N250,000.
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The federal government had asked the labour unions to demand
a more realistic and sustainable wage.
The organised labour is scheduled to meet with the president
on Thursday as a continuation of the July 11 discussion on the new minimum
wage.
Idris, who spoke with State House correspondents in Abuja on
Monday, said the new minimum wage bill will be transmitted to the national
assembly after Tinubu meets with organized organised labour.
The minister also said a supplementary budget will be sent
to parliament to cover the new minimum wage.
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“Now, you are also aware that last week, the Nigeria Labour
Congress met the president. This, of course, was part of the consultation to
which the president has agreed,” he said.
“Recall that he had met organised sector; he had also met
sub-nationals after the tripartite committee on labour had submitted its report
to ensure that there is a thorough analysis of the situation so that the
government would come up with a minimum wage that works for all Nigerians, the
federal government, the sub-nationals, and the organised private sector.
“That was also discussed today. And the government has also
directed the ministry of budgets to come up with additional support for the
2024 budget so that any differential or any gaps that will exist in terms of
what existed before the 2024 budget were approved, a supplementary budget, and
also what the requirement is for now.
“So, the government is working around the clock to ensure
that it comes up with a minimum wage, like I said, that works for all
Nigerians.
“At the end of the
day, this, of course, will be submitted to the national assembly so that you
can have legislative backing.
“Let me also say that the president is also open to meeting
the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress, and all the affiliates.
We expect that meeting to hold this coming Thursday.
“Recall that this was already what the labour unions
requested during their meeting with Mr President last week.
“So, the president is in agreement, he knows that the labour
wants to quickly find a lasting solution to the issue of minimum wage, and the
government is also assured to put the issue of minimum wage behind it.
“So’ it is expected
that the NLC, TUC, and all the affiliates, as requested by them last week, will
meet the president on Thursday, after which the president will now transmit
whatever the final agreement or what his views are on the tripartite committee
report to the national assembly for legislation.”
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