Organised labour unions in Nigeria have now reduced their demand for a new National Minimum Wage from N615,000 to N500,000, even as the federal government stands its ground on N54,000.
Information reaching us at Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper said that the unions made their new position at the ongoing Tripartite Committee meeting on the National Minimum Wage in Abuja today, May 22.
It was learnt that the labour leaders reduced their demands so as to ensure a speedy conclusion of negotiation on new national minimum wage.
It was further learnt that the government team is adamant, insisting on the N54,000 offer, complaining of non-availability of fund and the inability of the private sector to pay.
A source hinted that the private sector has made an additional N3,000 taking up its offer to N57,000 from the initial N54,000.
“Labour has been requested to shift in response to the Government. They complied and came down to N500,000.
“The Government has agreed that NLC is using evidence-based presentation. But they argue that eight states are not paying or not fully implementing the 2019 minimum wage.
“The Government is talking of non-availability of funds. They are also talking about the inability of the private sector to pay.”
The source said that the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, was present at the meeting.
”The Imo State Governor has stepped in. He is not a member of the committee but it is good that there is at least a governor, as the six governors in the committee have been regularly absent.”
Source: Vanguard.
