According to a report from Punch News, the National Minimum Wage Committee is currently in the process of finalizing negotiations for a new minimum wage rate before May 1st, which is when President Tinubu is expected to make the announcement.
An anonymous committee member, speaking to Punch, revealed that the goal is to have the President announce the new wage on Workers’ Day, with the intention for it to come into effect in April. However, the source noted that negotiations have not yet reached the stage of discussion, and there is still work to be done in order to determine an acceptable figure for the country.
The committee is currently gathering reports from public hearings conducted in various regions. They will take into account the perspectives of organized labor, the government, and private employers before analyzing the overall picture and settling on a percentage increase. Further adjustments may be made based on assessments of the ability to pay by the governors.
While the precise rate of the new minimum wage is yet to be determined, labor groups have sent a strong message to the governors. The Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) has warned that it will not tolerate any state failing to fully implement the new wage, while the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has dismissed suggestions of regional differences. They argue that the removal of fuel subsidies has provided governors with additional resources to support a revised wage.
Furthermore, state labor chairmen in Ogun, Ekiti, and Osun have expressed confidence in the willingness of the governors to honor the new wage once it is announced. However, given the previous call by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to consider the financial capacities of individual states, it will be crucial for all governors to provide firm commitments in order to prevent potential conflicts within the industrial sector.
With negotiations still ongoing, it remains to be seen what rate will be agreed upon and whether a consensus can be reached that balances the demands of organized labor with the economic realities of different regions of the country. Nevertheless, the anticipated May Day announcement by President Tinubu regarding the new minimum wage offers hope that Nigerian workers may soon see greater income justice.
