Minimum wage: FG begs as labour rejects N60,000

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has appealed to organized labour to be considerate and patriotic in their demands in the ongoing negotiation for a new national minimum wage.

Onyejeocha made the appeal in a statement signed by Mr Olajide Oshundun, the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, on Wednesday in Abuja.

NAN reports that during the Tripartite Committee on the Minimum Wage negotiation meeting on Tuesday, the Federal Government offered Labour N60,000 as the new minimum wage for workers.

Organized Labour also presented N494 000 as the new national minimum wage for workers in the country.

The minister said the federal government had been consistent in taking steps to secure a fair and realistic wage for Nigerian workers.

Therefore, she urged labour to recognize that the nation’s economy was still recovering from the effects of the pandemic and other economic distress.

“We appeal to organized labour and 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 remains dedicated to prioritizing the well-being of our citizens, and it wants 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.

The minister, therefore, said the government recognized that Nigerians’ economic challenges were complex and multifaceted and called for the collective effort of all stakeholders to overcome them.