President Bola Tinubu has authorized the formation of a tripartite committee to address the implementation of a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers. The approval was outlined in a letter from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, directed to Comrade Ambali Akeem Olatunji of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Dated January 23, 2024, the letter, titled “Inauguration of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage,” details the scheduled inauguration of the committee at the Presidential Villa on January 30, 2024.
The committee’s inaugural session is set to commence at 12:00 noon prompt in the Council Chamber at the Presidential Villa, State House, Abuja. Members are requested to be seated by 11:30 am, with arrangements for a shuttle bus at the pilot gate to transport participants to the venue from 10:00 am.
Nigerian labor unions have been advocating for an elevation of the minimum wage for workers at both federal and state levels. The push for this increase stems from the heightened cost of living following the removal of fuel subsidies. In June 2023, labor leaders urged the government to elevate the minimum wage from N30,000 to N200,000, citing the necessity to align with current economic realities. It’s worth noting that the minimum wage was last revised in April 2019, from N18,000 to N30,000.
