The Federal Government and labour unions concluded their discussions on Sunday with a consensus that all categories of workers should benefit from the provisional wage increment declared by President Bola Tinubu during his Independence Day nationwide address.
President Tinubu had announced an increase of N25,000 in the wages of lower-grade workers across the country. This move was aimed at improving the federal minimum wage without causing undue inflation.
“After engaging with labour, business, and other stakeholders, we are introducing a provisional wage increment to enhance the federal minimum wage without triggering excessive inflation. For the next six months, the average low-grade worker will receive an additional twenty-five thousand naira per month,” stated President Tinubu.
Following a closed-door meeting lasting four hours, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, revealed that the president agreed to this new approach after feedback from the labour unions. He also indicated that additional details would be disclosed once the unions have consulted with their respective constituencies by Monday.
Gbajabiamila emphasised the shared commitment of both the government and the unions to the welfare of the nation and its citizens. He expressed optimism that the labour unions would convene their meetings and present the agreements to their members, ideally resulting in the suspension of the impending strike by Tuesday, ultimately benefiting the workers and the nation as a whole.
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, noted that the union had received a “promissory note” from the government, which they would take back to their members for consideration. He added that the final decision would be communicated after this internal review.
A nationwide strike had been declared by NLC and TUC for Tuesday due to the government’s delay in implementing the fuel subsidy removal palliatives, which were among labour’s demands. In response, President Tinubu announced the provisional wage increment and introduced compressed natural gas-powered buses to alleviate transportation costs during his nationwide broadcast on Sunday.
During his address, President Tinubu acknowledged the hardships faced by Nigerians and assured them of his administration’s commitment to alleviating their difficulties. He highlighted various measures undertaken by all levels of government to mitigate these challenges, including public sector reforms, fiscal and monetary policy adjustments, and support for the poor and vulnerable.
Furthermore, President Tinubu mentioned the establishment of an Infrastructure Support Fund to aid states in crucial areas of development and support for the rising cost of living. He emphasized the necessity of enduring present challenges to achieve a brighter future.
The meeting featured key government officials, including Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong; Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu; Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; and Minister of Trade, Investment, and Industry, Doris Uzoka-Anite.
