Organized labour softens stance on N1m minimum wage ahead of talks

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In a potentially significant development, reports suggest that organized labour may be considering adjusting its previously proposed N1 million minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

This revised stance, reportedly influenced by “realities on the ground,” could pave the way for more productive dialogue with the Federal Government during the upcoming tripartite committee meeting on minimum wage negotiations.

Speaking with the press on the deliberations of the committee following the announcement by the President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, that rising inflation in the country might push the organised labour to demand N1m as minimum wage, a representative of the NLC, who is also a member of the committee, Akeem Ambali, said one of the principles of collective bargaining allowed all parties to look into all factors before an amount would be agreed on.

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“The principle of collective bargaining allows compromise once the parties look at all factors to ensure an agreeable amount is reached,” he stated.

Speaking on the next sitting of the committee, Akeem Ambali, a labout leader, said, “The second meeting of the minimum wage committee has been slated for Monday and Tuesday.

“On the timeline of March for the expiration of the current minimum wage, we hope that the committee, the Presidency, and the National Assembly will expedite action to ensure that the new Minimum Wage Act would have come to replace the old one by April 1, 2024.”