Tinubu Enacts New Minimum Wage Law

President Bola Tinubu

Tinubu signs N70,000 minimum wage into law...

President Bola Tinubu signs new Minimum Wage Act into law, praises from labour leaders for ‘fatherly gesture,’ and pledges to resolve outstanding university union salaries.

On Monday, July 29, President Bola Tinubu officially signed the new Minimum Wage Act into law, marking a significant milestone in his administration's efforts to improve the welfare of Nigerian workers.

The signing ceremony took place in the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, with distinguished guests in attendance, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, and other notable figures.

President Tinubu had previously endorsed a new minimum wage of N70,000 on July 18, pledging to review the national minimum wage law every three years to ensure it remains aligned with the country's economic realities and the needs of its workforce.

President Bola Tinubu's signing of the new Minimum Wage Act into law comes on the heels of a crucial meeting between the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on July 18.

The Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the development in a statement, confirming that the President has taken a significant step towards improving the welfare of Nigerian workers by enacting the new minimum wage law.

“President Bola Tinubu has approved N70,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers with promise to review the national minimum wage law every three years.

“President Tinubu also promised to find ways to assist the private sector and the sub-nationals to pay the minimum wage.

 “President Tinubu announced the decisions at the meeting held with leaders of TUC and NLC on Thursday in Abuja, the second time the parties met in 7 days,” the statement read.

According to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Tinubu, labour leaders praised the President's “fatherly gesture” in signing the new Minimum Wage Act into law, demonstrating his commitment to the welfare of Nigerian workers.

In addition to enacting the new minimum wage, President Tinubu also vowed to utilize his executive powers to address the long-standing issue of unpaid salaries owed to university unions, totaling four months, thereby bringing relief to affected workers and fostering a more harmonious industrial relations environment.