THE Trade Union Congress (TUC) strongly criticized the Federal Government for its lackadaisical approach towards discussions on a new minimum wage, warning of a potential strike if the matter remains unresolved.
TUC President, Festus Osifo, emphasized the need for the government to take the issue of a new minimum wage seriously.
Negotiations between labor unions and the government have been ongoing, with labor initially demanding a minimum wage of ₦615,000 before decreasing their request to ₦494,000.
Despite the government and private sector suggesting initial figures of ₦48,000 and ₦54,000 respectively, these were rejected by the labor unions.
During a committee meeting yesterday on the minimum wage, the labor unions rejected the Federal Government’s latest proposal of ₦60,000, citing it as inadequate given the country’s economic realities, particularly the high inflation rate at 33.69%.
The Organised Labour, represented by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and TUC, stands firm in their rejection of the ₦60,000 offer, indicating a willingness to strike if necessary.
The Tripartite Committee’s negotiations have hit an impasse just days before the May 31 deadline set by the labor unions, underscoring the urgency for a resolution to the minimum wage issue.
