Minimum Wage: Federal Government Pleads as Labour Rejects N60,000 Proposal

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mrs. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has urged organized labour to be considerate and patriotic in their demands during the ongoing negotiations for a new national minimum wage.

Onyejeocha made this appeal in a statement released on Wednesday in Abuja by Mr. Olajide Oshundun, the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations.

According to NAN, during the Tripartite Committee on the Minimum Wage negotiation meeting on Tuesday, the Federal Government proposed N60,000 as the new minimum wage for workers.

Organized Labour has proposed N494,000 as the new national minimum wage for workers in Nigeria.

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mrs. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, emphasized that the federal government has consistently taken steps to secure a fair and realistic wage for Nigerian workers. She urged labour to acknowledge the ongoing recovery of the nation’s economy from the effects of the pandemic and other economic challenges.

“We appeal to organized labour and other relevant stakeholders to be considerate and patriotic in their demands, recognizing that our economy is still recovering from the devastating effects of the pandemic and other global economic shocks.

“We are committed to putting the people first and ensuring that our economic policies benefit all Nigerians, not just a select few.

“The government remains dedicated to prioritizing the well-being of our citizens, and it wants to urge all relevant parties to demonstrate patriotism and understanding, particularly during this critical period when President Bola Tinubu is working diligently to revitalize the economy,” she said.

The minister also acknowledged the complexity and multifaceted nature of the economic challenges faced by Nigerians and called for a collective effort from all stakeholders to overcome them.