The Nigerian government and organized labour unions have reportedly reached a new agreement to serve as a framework for negotiating the new minimum wage. Both sides converged at the office of the secretary of the government of the federation, SGF, on Monday night to hammer out a deal that would potentially end the strike action that has basically grounded the nation’s economy.
As part of the new agreement, both sides agreed to further engage daily for the next one week at the level of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage until a final agreement is reached.
The government also reportedly agreed to pay a minimum wage “higher than ₦60,000”, which had been the government’s latest offer before Monday’s strike.
In a statement issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the Ministers of Information and that of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Idris and Nkiruka Onyejeocha, respectively, on the part of the Federal Government, and NLC and TUC Presidents, Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo, respectively, on the part of the Organised Labour, the meeting agreed on four-point resolutions as a pathway to ending the ongoing industrial dispute.
“The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria is committed to a National Minimum Wage that is higher than N60,000;
“Arising from the above, the Tripartite Committee is to meet every day for the next one week with a view to arriving at an agreeable National Minimum Wage.
“Labour in deference to the high esteem of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria’s commitment in (ii) above undertakes to convene a meeting of its organs immediately to consider this commitment; and
“No worker would be victimised as a result of the industrial action,” the agreement read.
