Organised Labour has sent a message to President Bola Tinubu to meet with the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and the Organised Private Sector (OPS) before presenting any figures for a new minimum wage to the National Assembly to be passed into law.

According to the groups, this would foster peace and maintain harmony in the country. Organised labour also mentioned that they would demand payment of minimum wage arrears no matter how long it takes to be passed by the National Assembly.

This was made known by the Presidents of NLC and TUC, Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo, on Thursday, June 13, 2024, during the ongoing International Labour Conference organised by the International Labour Organisation in Geneva, Switzerland.

Recall that on June 7, both the Federal Government and OPS settled on N62,000 as a new minimum wage, however, Labour rejected the offer and insisted on N250,000.

Reports indicate that the tripartite committee set up to negotiate a new minimum wage recommended the two figures to President Tinubu.

Ajaero said that labour expects the President to invite tripartite bodies to a meeting to discuss the ability to pay before arriving at a final figure.

His statement reads in part:

“We do not expect the President to present a final figure to the National Assembly without consulting with organised labour, employers, and state governors. Everyone will still come together to discuss before transmission to the National Assembly.”

He made this known after President Tinubu announced the conclusion of negotiations on the new minimum wage with organised labour and the private sector during his address on Democracy Day.