Federal Government, Governors, and Private Sector Clash Over New Minimum Wage
The Federal Government’s willingness to agree to a minimum wage higher than N60,000 has caused a rift with governors and the private sector, who are against paying such a high amount. While the government may accept N65,000 as the new minimum wage, governors and the private sector argue that anything above N57,000 may not be sustainable due to limited resources for development projects.
The negotiation for a new minimum wage is ongoing, with Organised Labour rejecting the government’s offer of N60,000 and shifting from their initial demand of N497,000 to N494,000. The recent nationwide strike by the unions highlighted the urgency of reaching a consensus on the minimum wage issue.
Documents from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum reveal the financial challenges states face in meeting the proposed minimum wage. The NGF has expressed concerns that allocating N60,000 as the minimum wage may leave states with no resources for development projects, urging all parties to reach a sustainable agreement that considers socioeconomic factors.
The Tripartite Committee is close to agreeing on a new minimum wage, with Governor Hope Uzodimma stating that consensus is near. However, the clash between the government, governors, private sector, and labour unions underscores the complexity of the minimum wage negotiation process.
Additional reports by Abdulrahman Zakariyau
