Labour Gives Nigerian Government Until The End Of May To Implement Minimum Wage Increase...

The Federal Government has been given till the end of May by Organised Labour to complete the process of enacting the new national minimum wage for workers.

The request was made on Wednesday in Abuja during the 2024 International Workers Day celebration by Mr. Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, or NLC.

The theme of this year's festivities is "Ensuring Safety and Health at Work in a Changing Climate." 

There might not be industrial peace in Nigeria, the labour leader said, if the negotiations are not completed by the end of May.

According to Ajaero, there have been active interactions in the process of setting a new national minimum wage.

“All parties in the tripartite process are well represented and the engagement has been robust.

“We have placed our demand of N615, 000 only before our social partners while we await their offer.

“If, however, the negotiation of the minimum wage is not concluded by the end of May, the trade union movement in Nigeria will no longer guarantee industrial peace in the country.”

Also, according to Ajaero, labour had demanded that the new Act be implemented over a two-year period with automatic wage increases if inflation rose above 7.5%.

He stated that in addition, the union insisted on receiving the increased minimum wage from any firm with five or more employees.

To penalise state governments that violate regulations, Ajaero demanded that monitoring and compliance systems be strengthened.

According to him, minimum wages in Nigeria ought to be close to a livable wage for labourers there.