FG, NLC clash over minimum wage talks

The Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) are at odds over the timing for discussions regarding a new national minimum wage, with organized labor demanding the process to commence immediately. The disagreement arose following a series of letters exchanged between Dr Muhammad Dingyadi, Minister of Labour and Employment, and NLC President Joe Ajaero, concerning the timetable for reviewing the N70,000 minimum wage.

Ajaero rejects the government's claim that a fresh review would be premature, arguing that the statutory timetable set out in the original National Minimum Wage Act of 2019 remains relevant, despite the amendments made in 2024. He insists that the process should begin by calling for nominations and forming the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee, consisting of the government, organized labor, and employers.

Ajaero emphasizes that delaying the process will exacerbate the hardships faced by Nigerian workers. This comes in the wake of rising living costs and the decreasing value of workers' earnings. The NLC, which backed the demand for an immediate wage increase, also called for reduced petrol prices, implementation of tax relief measures, and the start of negotiations for a new minimum wage before the end of October.