By Uzair Adam Imam
The Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage is set to reconvene on May 23 to continue negotiations on a new minimum wage for workers.
This comes after the organized labor walked out of the negotiation on May 15, citing dissatisfaction with the government’s proposal of N48,000.
According to an invitation letter sent to labor leaders by the committee’s chairman, Bukar Goni, the government has agreed to shift its position on the proposed minimum wage.
The letter urged labor leaders to attend the reconvened meeting next Tuesday and to speak to their members about the new development.
The organized labor, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has proposed a minimum wage of N615,000, significantly higher than the government’s initial proposal.
The private sector, on the other hand, has proposed an initial offer of N54,000.
The labor leaders had expressed their anger and disappointment over the government’s offer, blaming both the government and the private sector for the breakdown in negotiations.
They have given the government a deadline of May 31 to meet their demands.
The minimum wage negotiations have been ongoing since January 30, when Vice President Kashim Shettima inaugurated the 37-member tripartite committee to recommend a new national minimum wage.
The committee is chaired by the former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Goni Aji.With the cost of living rising following the removal of fuel subsidy, calls for a new minimum wage have intensified.
Labor leaders argue that the proposed minimum wage of N615,000 is necessary to meet the needs of an average Nigerian family of six, given the current economic situation.
The resumption of negotiations next week offers a glimmer of hope for workers who have been waiting for a new minimum wage.
The government’s willingness to reconsider its proposal is seen as a positive development, and labor leaders are expected to approach the negotiations with renewed optimism.