President Bola Tinubu has approved a new minimum wage of N70,000 for Nigerian workers, with a commitment to review the national minimum wage law every three years. This significant announcement reflects the administration’s dedication to improving the livelihoods of Nigerian workers and ensuring that wage policies remain relevant and fair over time.
This development was shared in a post on X by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on Thursday. Onanuga stated that President Tinubu made these decisions during a meeting held with leaders of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja. This meeting marked the second time the parties had convened within a week, highlighting the urgency and importance of the discussions.
President Tinubu also emphasized his administration’s commitment to finding ways to assist the private sector and sub-national governments in implementing and sustaining the new minimum wage. This move is aimed at ensuring that the wage increase benefits workers across all sectors of the economy, not just those in federal employment.
The Labour leaders present at the meeting applauded President Tinubu for his “fatherly gesture” and proactive approach. The President also addressed the demands of university unions regarding unpaid salaries, promising to use his discretionary powers to meet their demands and resolve the issue of four months of unpaid wages. This assurance was met with approval from the union leaders, who expressed optimism about the administration’s commitment to addressing workers’ grievances.
In addition to the wage increase, President Tinubu highlighted the importance of continuous dialogue between the government and labour unions to address ongoing and future concerns. He emphasized that the government is dedicated to fostering a collaborative relationship with labour groups to ensure the welfare of Nigerian workers is prioritized.