Nigeria’s Labour Unions and Government Reach Agreement on Salary Adjustments

In a significant development, the federal government of Nigeria and the labour unions have reached a consensus on the consequential salary adjustments arising from the new National Minimum Wage Act, 2024. The agreement was reached after a committee set up to handle the adjustments concluded its assignment and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The 16-member committee, chaired by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, was tasked with determining the necessary adjustments to salaries in line with the new minimum wage of N70,000, which was approved by President Bola Tinubu on July 18, 2024.

Speaking after the signing of the MoU, Mrs. Walson-Jack commended the efforts of the committee members, praising them for their dedication. "Both the trade union and the government sides have agreed on the Consequential Adjustments in Salaries arising from the new minimum wage of N70,000," she said in a statement.

The committee members reviewed and signed the MoU, with copies handed over to representatives from the government and the trade unions. Walson-Jack described the negotiations as one of the shortest and most peaceful in recent history, and confirmed that the signed MoU would be forwarded to the federal government for implementation.

The National Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council, Comrade Benjamin Anthony, who represented the labour unions, also expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the committee’s work. He praised the leadership of Mrs. Walson-Jack, noting that the collaboration had been smooth and fruitful.

The agreement is expected to have a significant impact on the salaries of Nigerian workers, who have been waiting for the implementation of the new minimum wage. The development is seen as a major step forward in the country’s efforts to improve the welfare of its citizens.