NLC Reacts As Tinubu Speaks on Payment of New Minimum Wage

• Organised labour has faulted President Bola Tinubu's statement regarding the payment of new minimum wage to workers in the country
• The NLC, led by Joe Ajaero, tackled Tinubu for saying he would pay Nigerian workers what his government can afford
• The spokesperson of the NLC, Benson Upah, reacted to the president's statement and explained what his government should do regarding the wage dispute

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has maintained that the federal government must accede to its demands on minimum wage, given the country's current realities.

Minimum Wage: NLC reacts to Tinubu's stance

The NLC, led by Joe Ajaero, stated this while reacting to a statement by President Bola Tinubu during a meeting with some governors and members of the national assembly on the occasion of the nation’s 25th Democracy Day anniversary.

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Minimum wage: Tinubu’s FG discloses actual amount it is willing to pay Nigerian workers, knocks NLC

Recall that Tinubu had said the government would only be able to pay its workers what the country can afford.

“Senate president, deputy senate president, you will get a notice from me if I have changed my mind on minimum wage. We are going to do it — what Nigeria can afford, what you can afford, what I can afford. They ask you to cut your coat according to your size if you have size at all,” Tinubu had said.

NLC reminds Tinubu of living wage promise

But in his reaction, the spokesperson of the NLC, Benson Upah, faulted Tinubu's statement and described it as a contradiction of his promise to pay a living wage.

Upah spoke in an interview with The Punch published on Sunday, June 16.

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“Not going beyond N62k”: Don speaks as new minimum wage awaits legislative action

“This will be in breach of his promise to pay a living wage which is superior to a minimum wage. Moreover, there is unanimity of opinion that government accede to the demand of Labour based on practical realities,” he stated.

Disagreements between the government, labour, and the organised private sector (OPDS) have continued to brew over the new minimum wage.

Tinubu's decision on the minimum wage report will determine labour's next action as the federal government offered to pay workers N62,000.

Minimum wage: Zamfara govt commences payment

Legit.ng earlier reported that Zamfara state government announced the commencement of N30,000 minimum wage payment to civil servants.

The governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, said the N30,000 minimum wage is an increase from the N7,000 paid to some in the past.

Proofreading by James Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng