The federal government has proposed N54,000 as the new minimum wage, following organised labour’s rejection of a N48,000 offer.

However, organised labour, which comprises the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), is insisting on a N615,000 minimum wage.

The government proposed this new sum on Tuesday, during a meeting of the Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage, according to a report by The PUNCH.

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The FG commissioned the committee in January to recommend a new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers. The committee comprises representatives of the federal and state governments, the private sector and organised labour.

When the government first proposed N48,000 during the negotiation meeting on Wednesday, the organised labour stormed out, saying, “The government’s proposal of a paltry N48,000 as the minimum wage does not only insult the sensibilities of Nigerian workers but also falls significantly short of meeting our needs and aspirations.”

During last week’s meeting, the organised private sector recommended an initial offer of N54,000, but organised labour proposed N615,000 instead.

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While making a case for the proposed N615,000, the union said it would help workers cope with the current economic realities, including the high cost of living in the country.
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