Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, presented a new minimum wage proposal to President Bola Tinubu on Thursday. The proposal aims to serve as a foundation for the ongoing negotiations with the tripartite panel, which includes representatives from the government, labour unions, and the organized private sector.
The presentation took place at the State House in Abuja, marking a critical step in the negotiation process. When questioned by the press regarding the progress of the government’s discussions with organized labour, Minister Edun provided a reassuring comment, indicating that there was no reason for concern.
Accompanying Minister Edun were Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, and Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation.
Earlier this week, President Tinubu had tasked Minister Edun with the responsibility of developing a negotiation template for the Presidential panel. Furthermore, the President expressed his willingness to exceed the government’s initial offer of N60,000 as the maximum wage, a figure that had previously led to a nationwide strike due to its disparity with the labour’s demand of N464,000 as the minimum wage.
The recent relaxation of the strike suggests a potential for progress in the negotiations, as the government and labour representatives work towards a mutually agreeable resolution.
