President Tinubu To Set New Minimum Wage Next Week

President Bola Tinubu is poised to unveil a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers in the upcoming week, as revealed by Comrade Festus Osifo, President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

This announcement follows a pivotal meeting between the TUC and the federal government to deliberate on the removal of fuel subsidies. Minister of Labour, Simon Lalong, represented the federal government and confirmed that discussions had taken place with President Tinubu and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, regarding the wage matter.

Comrade Osifo disclosed these insights during his appearance on ChannelsTV’s “Politics Today” program on the evening of September 19, 2023.

He explained, “The minister of labour told us that he had an audience with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the minister of finance and had reviewed the issue of wage award. But the president asked them to fine-tune the issues before he makes the announcement.”

Osifo emphasized that the TUC had issued a two-week ultimatum to the federal government to address their demands or risk facing nationwide industrial action. Despite Minister Lalong’s request for more time due to the president’s travel commitments, the TUC remained resolute in their call for a prompt resolution.

“The minister told us all these issues would be streamlined, but because the president has traveled, we should give him an extra two weeks. We said no; we don’t have an extra two weeks to give. After more discussions, he said the president would make a proper announcement next week,” Osifo revealed.

Beyond the minimum wage, the TUC engaged with the federal government on the distribution of palliatives to states. Comrade Osifo stressed their commitment to overseeing the fair and effective allocation of these relief measures, expressing their intent to scrutinize the implementation template. Additionally, discussions touched on issues related to taxation and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).