President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria affirmed his commitment to improving the welfare, wages, and working conditions of Nigerian workers during a meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Thursday, July 11, 2024 in Abuja.
In the meeting, Tinubu emphasized the importance of realistic expectations regarding the minimum wage, urging a pragmatic approach to wage adjustments. “A happy worker is a productive worker. And society depends on the productivity of the happy worker,” Tinubu said, noting the need for a structure that could adapt to changes more dynamically.
NLC President Joe Ajaero highlighted the necessity for an upward adjustment to the minimum wage, reflecting the difficulties faced by Nigerian workers. He also commended the President on the Supreme Court ruling granting local governments financial autonomy, a longstanding demand of the labour movement.
TUC President Festus Osifo pointed out the adverse effects of inflation on the naira’s value and stressed the importance of government measures to reduce food and transportation costs. He praised initiatives like the rollout of Compressed Natural Gas-powered buses and the suspension of duties on certain food imports.
Further discussions were postponed until next week to allow for broader consultation with stakeholders.
