Minimum Wage: Why We Accepted N70,000 – Labour
From PAULINE PODKA, Abuja
Leaders of the organised Labour have confirmed accepting the N70,000 minimum wage President Bola Tinubu approved for Nigerian workers.
Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information, had told State House correspondents that the president announced the offer at a meeting with the labour leaders at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, on Thursday.
Presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga, wrote: “President Tinubu also promised to find ways to assist the private sector and the sub-nationals to pay the minimum wage.
“The Labour leaders applauded President Tinubu for the fatherly gesture as the President also promised to use his discretionary powers meet the demands of university unions demanding unpaid 4 months salaries.”
President Tinubu has also directed the Ministers of Finance, Wale Edun and Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, to work out the modalities for the payment of four months withheld salaries to the university non-teaching staff.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said the unions had accepted the offer.
Flanked by Comrade Festus Usifo, President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and other representatives of Nigerian workers, who attended the meeting, Ajaero said the unions agreed to the offer because of other incentives attached.
He said another reason for accepting the offer is because the president promised a review every three years as against what obtained in the past.