In a landmark move for Nigerian workers, President Bola Tinubu has presented the N70,000 National Minimum Wage Bill to the House of Representatives for passage. This bill marks a significant step in improving the livelihood of the nation’s workforce.
The proposed legislation, a result of negotiations between the Nigerian government and the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), was laid before the lawmakers on Tuesday. This follows President Tinubu’s approval of N70,000 as the new minimum wage, which aims to address the economic challenges faced by workers across the country.
Announcing the development, presidential aide Bayo Onanuga issued a statement on X last week, saying, “Breaking: President Bola Tinubu has approved N70,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers with a promise to review the national minimum wage law every three years.”
Reacting to the news, NLC President Joe Ajaero and Trade Union Congress (TUC) President Festus Osifo expressed their support for the new minimum wage. They highlighted the significance of the wage reviews being scheduled every three years instead of the current five-year interval.
Ajaero remarked, “The announcement of N70,000 is a reflection of our current economic reality. The key advancement is the shift to a three-year review period. This means we will no longer wait for another five years to negotiate. Instead, we will engage in wage discussions twice within a five-year period.”
He further added, “Our negotiations also included addressing issues faced by members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), and others. President Tinubu has instructed the concerned agencies to work out the modalities for the payment of university workers affected by recent challenges.”
This historic proposal is seen as a major win for the Nigerian workforce, promising not only immediate relief but also a more responsive and dynamic wage policy moving forward. The House of Representatives is now tasked with deliberating and passing this crucial bill, setting the stage for its implementation and the enhancement of workers’ welfare nationwide.
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