The Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage has submitted its report to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), marking the conclusion of its assignment. This was announced in a statement by the SGF’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Segun Imohiosen.

A formal presentation of the report to President Bola Tinubu will occur upon the return of the Organized Labour and Government representatives from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

The SGF expressed gratitude to the Committee’s Chairman, Bukar Goni Aji, and its members for their dedication. The 37-member committee, inaugurated by President Tinubu on January 30, 2024, was tasked with recommending a new national minimum wage for workers in both public and private sectors.

Following extensive deliberations, the committee recommended ₦62,000 as the new minimum wage. However, organized labour has proposed ₦250,000, significantly lower than their initial demand of ₦494,000.

With the report’s submission, President Tinubu is expected to send an executive bill to the National Assembly for legislative action. Despite ongoing negotiations, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) maintains that the ₦60,000 proposal is unsustainable for many states.

Labour unions have paused their industrial action to allow for negotiations. Nonetheless, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) remains firm on a ₦250,000 minimum wage. NLC Assistant General Secretary Chris Onyeka stated, “We will not negotiate a starvation wage. We are driven by the realities of the marketplace and the cost of living.”

The submission of the report marks a significant step in the ongoing discussions to determine a fair and sustainable minimum wage for Nigerian workers.