The Minister of State for Labour and Employment in Nigeria Mrs. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has appealed to the organised labour to be considerate and patriotic in their demands during the ongoing negotiations for a new national minimum wage. This appeal was made in a statement signed by Mr. Olajide Oshundun, Director of Press and Public Relations in the ministry, on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 in Abuja.
During the Tripartite Committee on the Minimum Wage negotiation meeting on Tuesday, the Federal Government offered N60,000 as the new minimum wage for workers. Conversely, the Organised Labour presented N494,000 as their demand for the new national minimum wage.
Onyejeocha emphasized the federal government’s consistent efforts to secure a fair and realistic wage for Nigerian workers. She urged labour to consider the economic challenges faced by the nation, which is still recovering from the pandemic and other economic distress.
“We appeal to organised labour and indeed, other relevant stakeholders to be considerate and patriotic in their demands, recognizing that our economy is still recovering from the devastating effects of the pandemic and other global economic shocks,” she said.
Onyejeocha reassured that the government remains committed to prioritizing the well-being of all citizens and urged all parties to demonstrate patriotism and understanding during this critical period, highlighting President Bola Tinubu’s diligent efforts to revitalize the economy.
She acknowledged the complex and multifaceted nature of the economic challenges faced by Nigerians and called for collective effort to overcome them. The minister noted that the meeting with organised labour was a significant step towards securing a fair and realistic wage for Nigerian workers.
“After hours of intense negotiations, labour leaders took a recess to consult with other key stakeholders and have pledged to return to the negotiating table for further discussion. We welcome this development and are optimistic that our continued engagement will yield a positive outcome,” Onyejeocha stated.
She noted the government’s concessionary move from N57,000 to N60,000 as a demonstration of its willingness to listen to labour’s concerns and work towards a mutually beneficial agreement.
“President Tinubu has been tireless in his efforts to revitalise the economy and improve the standard of living for all Nigerians. His commitment to creating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and reducing poverty is genuine, and we appeal to all to support him in this endeavour,” she added.
The minister concluded by expressing the government’s commitment to inclusive and beneficial economic policies through continued engagement with organised labour and other stakeholders.
