Recent developments reveal ongoing disputes in Nigeria’s minimum wage negotiations between the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the federal government, contrary to previous reports of nearing agreement.
During his Democracy Day speech on June 12, President Bola Tinubu presented a picture of successful wage negotiations. However, this portrayal was quickly refuted by the NLC, with the Organised Private Sector (OPS) urging all involved parties to intensify their efforts toward reaching a consensus further.
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Dele Oye, President of the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce (NACCIMA), clarified on June 13 that the 37-member tripartite committee tasked with reviewing the minimum wage is still in active negotiation. Oye criticized the premature release of statements during ongoing discussions, pointing out the resulting uncertainties impacting business decisions.
The situation escalated on June 3 when the NLC and TUC commenced an indefinite nationwide strike in response to the government’s proposed N62,000 minimum wage, far below the N250,000 demanded by organized labor. The strike was briefly paused for a week, but tensions remain high.
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It was reported earlier that Senate President Godswill Akpabio had labeled the strike as economic sabotage, a sentiment strongly opposed by the NLC. They argue that mismanagement of national resources is the real threat to the economy, criticizing the Senate for lacking transparency in handling the wage dispute.
