Minimum wage: Labour Minister Appeals for Moderation in Minimum Wage Negotiations
Labour Minister invites NLC and TUC to consider your offer
Mrs. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, the minister of state for labour and employment, has urged organized labour to be patriotic and thoughtful in their demands during the current negotiations for a new national minimum wage.
Onyejeocha appealed for the change in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by Mr. Olajide Oshundun, the ministry's director of press and public relations.
According to NAN, the Federal Government made Labour an offer of N60,000 as the new minimum wage for workers during the Tripartite Committee on the Minimum Wage negotiation meeting on Tuesday.
The Federal Government had proposed Labour N60,000 as the new minimum salary for workers during the Tripartite Committee on the Minimum salary negotiation meeting on Tuesday, according to NAN.
Additionally, N494, 000 was proposed by Organized Labour as the new national minimum wage for laborers in the nation.
According to the minister, Nigerian workers have consistently benefited from the federal government's consistent efforts to ensure that wages are reasonable and equitable.
Consequently, she called on labour to acknowledge that the country's economy was still recovering from the effects of the pandemic and other economic hardships.
“We appeal to organised labour and indeed, other relevant stakeholders to be considerate and patriotic in their demands, recognizing that our economy is still recovering from the devastating effects of the pandemic and other global economic shocks.
“We are committed to putting the people first and ensuring that our economic policies benefit all Nigerians, not just a select few.
“The government remain dedicated to prioritizing the well-being of our citizens and its want to urge all relevant parties to demonstrate patriotism and understanding.
“This is particularly during this critical period when the President, Bola Tinubu, is working diligently to revitalize the economy,” she said.
As a result, the minister stated that the government acknowledged the complexity and diversity of the economic difficulties that Nigerians faced and that all parties involved needed to work together to find solutions.
The discussion with organized labor, she continued, was an important step in our continuing efforts to guarantee Nigerian workers a reasonable and fair salary.
“As a government, we recognise the importance of ensuring that our citizens receive a decent standard of living, and we are committed to making this a reality.
“After hours of intense negotiations, labour leaders took a recess to consult with other key stakeholders and have pledged to return to the negotiating table for further discussion.
“We welcome this development and are optimistic that our continued engagement will yield a positive outcome.
“In light of the current economic conditions, we have made a concessionary move from N57,000 to N60,000, she said.
“We appeal to organised labour and indeed, other relevant stakeholders to be considerate and patriotic in their demands, recognizing that our economy is still recovering from the devastating effects of the pandemic and other global economic shocks.
“We are committed to putting the people first and ensuring that our economic policies benefit all Nigerians, not just a select few.
“The government remain dedicated to prioritizing the well-being of our citizens and its want to urge all relevant parties to demonstrate patriotism and understanding.
“This is particularly during this critical period when the President, Bola Tinubu, is working diligently to revitalize the economy,” she said.
This is why, according to the minister, the government acknowledges that Nigerians confront numerous and intricate economic issues, and it is up to all parties involved to work together to find solutions.
As part of our continuous efforts to ensure that Nigerian workers receive a fair and reasonable salary, she continued, the meeting with organized labor was an important step.
“As a government, we recognise the importance of ensuring that our citizens receive a decent standard of living, and we are committed to making this a reality.
“After hours of intense negotiations, labour leaders took a recess to consult with other key stakeholders and have pledged to return to the negotiating table for further discussion.
“We welcome this development and are optimistic that our continued engagement will yield a positive outcome.
“In light of the current economic conditions, we have made a concessionary move from N57,000 to N60,000,” she said.
She pointed out that the increase was evidence of the government's readiness to pay attention to labor issues and strive for a win-win solution.
She asserts that we are aware of how difficult the current economic climate is and that we are making every effort to lessen its affects on our people.
“This is the path that this government has chosen to pursue, and we will not deviate or stray from the course.
“President Tinubu has been tireless in his efforts to revitalise the economy and improve the standard of living for all Nigerians.
“His commitment to creating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and reducing poverty is genuine, and we appeal to all to support him in this endeavour.
“As we move forward, we will continue to engage with organised labour and other stakeholders to ensure that our economic policies are inclusive and beneficial to all," she added.
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