The Presidency has refuted claims that Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, along with the Federal Government’s negotiating team, proposed a new minimum wage of N105,000.

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Following the declaration of a nationwide strike by organized labor, the Federal Government entered negotiations with union leaders, reaching an initial agreement. President Bola Tinubu subsequently instructed Finance Minister Edun to develop a new minimum wage template within 48 hours.

On Thursday, Edun and his team met with President Tinubu. However, no details of the meeting’s outcome were disclosed. Reports soon surfaced suggesting that Edun’s team had proposed a minimum wage of N105,000.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Strategy, swiftly denied these claims, stating on social media that “The Honorable Minister of Finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Wale Edun, has not proposed N105,000 minimum wage. The contrary story being disseminated is false.”

On Thursday, Finance Minister Wale Edun submitted the proposed cost implications of a new national minimum wage to President Bola Tinubu. Edun’s proposal suggests a minimum wage of N105,000.

Earlier in the week, President Tinubu had directed Edun to prepare a new wage template within two days.

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However, as of Thursday morning, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) reported no updates on the new minimum wage offer, emphasizing their demand for a living wage via their official X (formerly Twitter) account.

The NLC had set a one-week ultimatum, criticizing the lack of progress and urging the government to take prompt action.

The organized labor group is advocating for a minimum wage of N494,000, significantly higher than the government’s initial offer of N60,000.

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Despite these tensions, Finance Minister Edun, along with Minister of Budget and National Planning Atiku Bagudu, presented the cost implementation details of the proposed minimum wage to President Tinubu at the presidential villa in Abuja.

Edun reassured the public, stating, “There is no cause for alarm.”

Trade Union Congress President Comrade Festus Osifo confirmed that no new developments or offers had been made by the government.

He emphasized that discussions so far had focused on principles rather than concrete proposals.

Osifo expressed hope that a definitive offer would be presented soon, indicating the labor union’s readiness to resume discussions the following day.

The Federal Government has proposed a minimum wage exceeding N60,000, urging organized labor to consider the offer.

While the exact amount was not specified, the announcement was made following a meeting between government officials and representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) late Monday.

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The government representatives who signed the statement were Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, and Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State for Labour and Employment.

For the organized labor, the signatories included Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, and Festus Osifo, President of the TUC.

The statement released after the meeting read:

“Following the negotiations by the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and the subsequent withdrawal of labor from the negotiation process, the leadership of the National Assembly intervened on June 2, 2024. In response, the organized labor declared a nationwide strike on June 3, 2024, to press their demands.

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“In the interest of the nation, the Federal Government convened a meeting with labor representatives at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on June 3, with the aim of ending the strike.

“After extensive deliberations, the following resolutions were reached:

1. The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is committed to a national minimum wage higher than N60,000.
2. The Tripartite Committee will meet daily for the next week to finalize an agreeable national minimum wage.
3. In recognition of the President’s commitment, labor leaders will immediately convene a meeting with their members to consider this proposal.
4. No worker will face retaliation as a result of participating in the industrial action.

“This resolution was reached in Abuja on June 3, 2024.”

The meeting marked a significant step toward resolving the ongoing nationwide strike, which was initiated by the NLC and TUC to demand better wages and working conditions for Nigerian workers.

The proposed increase in the minimum wage aims to address the rising cost of living and improve the welfare of the workforce.

As the Tripartite Committee begins its daily meetings to finalize the new minimum wage, labor leaders are set to consult with their members to gauge their response to the government’s offer. The outcome of these consultations will likely influence the next steps in the negotiation process and the potential resolution of the strike.

Both the government and labor unions have expressed a commitment to reaching a mutually beneficial agreement that addresses the needs of workers while considering the economic realities of the nation.

The Nigerian Defence Headquarters has clarified the presence of soldiers at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), where a meeting between organized labour and the federal government is taking place.

SGF George Akume had urgently called for the meeting to address the ongoing nationwide strike, ahead of a scheduled session with the Federal Government’s National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission.

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During the meeting, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) raised concerns about the presence of military personnel at the venue, suggesting a potential intimidation tactic.

In response, the Defence Headquarters issued a statement explaining that the soldiers were accompanying the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who was also in attendance.

The statement read: “The attention of Army Headquarters has been drawn to false news by the NLC alleging that soldiers currently surround the venue of the ongoing meeting between the NLC and the SGF.

“Kindly note that the NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who is also attending the meeting, arrived at the venue with his statutorily approved military escorts. Once the meeting concludes, the escorts will lead the NSA from the premises.

“Please disregard the deliberate and misleading falsehood being circulated about the presence of the escorts at the meeting,” the Defence Headquarters clarified on their official Facebook page.

Members of the organised labour have strongly condemned the federal government’s deployment of military personnel against workers at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), vowing to continue their industrial action.

On Monday, workers at TCN joined the ongoing nationwide strike, resulting in the withdrawal of their services and causing the national grid to collapse.

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This disruption led to widespread power outages across the country.

In response, TCN authorities quickly distanced themselves from the blackout, asserting that the grid shutdown occurred around 2:19 AM on Monday.

According to TCN, the incident began at about 1:15 AM when the Benin Transmission Operator under the Independent System Operations unit reported that operators were forcibly removed from the control room.

TCN claimed that those who resisted were assaulted, leading to injuries and the Benin Area Control Center being rendered inoperative.

NLC President Joe Ajaero confirmed the grid shutdown and criticized the government’s use of military force against TCN workers.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Ajaero declared that workers would remain resolute despite these intimidations.

Ajaero called on Nigerians to support the labour movement in their struggle against what he termed “oppressive and insensitive leaders.”

He emphasized the NLC and TUC’s unwavering commitment to securing fair wages and reversing the recent electricity tariff hike.

“We have been informed that TCN management has resorted to using the military to intimidate and harass workers performing their lawful and democratic duties at various TCN plants across Nigeria,” Ajaero stated. “We believe the military personnel involved are not pleased with being misused in this manner.”

He reaffirmed the labour unions’ dedication to fighting for the rights and welfare of Nigerian workers, urging all citizens to stand in solidarity with their cause.

“We will not back down, and we will not succumb to blackmail, intimidation, or harassment,” Ajaero asserted.

Furthermore, Ajaero warned TCN management that they would be held accountable for any harm inflicted on workers due to the deployment of military forces.

“Deploying military personnel to TCN locations is a clear abuse and insult to the military, especially in a democratic setting,” he said.

The labour movement’s defiance signals a continued standoff with the federal government, with workers determined to press on until their demands are met.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has thrown its weight behind the ongoing strike organized by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

ASUU’s decision to join the strike stems from the Federal Government’s failure to meet the unions’ demand for a minimum wage increase.

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In a statement directed to ASUU branch chairpersons and zonal coordinators, the association’s President, Emmanuel Osodeke, mandated lecturers nationwide to participate in the strike as an affiliate of the congress.

The statement said:
“The NLC has declared an indefinite strike action beginning from Monday, 3rd June 2024, as a result of the failure of the Government to conclude the renegotiation of the minimum wage for Nigerian workers and the reversal of the hike in electricity tariffs.”

“All our branches are hereby urged to join in the strike action as affiliate members of Congress. Consequently, branch chairpersons are to mobilize all members to participate in the strike action. Yours in the struggle,” the statement continued.

ASUU had previously expressed discontent over the Federal Government’s delay in appointing Governing Councils for Federal Universities and criticized what it deemed the government’s neglect of academic matters in Nigerian Federal Universities under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

During a press briefing at the University of Abuja, ASUU also objected to the 35 per cent salary increment for professors and the 25 per cent increment for other academics, viewing it as a precarious wage award that could be retracted at any moment.

The National Universities Commission (NUC) had dissolved the governing councils of all federal universities and boards of other agencies and parastatals in the country, following a directive by President Bola Tinubu.

With ASUU’s alignment with the NLC and TUC strike, the academic body is poised to continue its protest even after the Federal Government resolves the minimum wage issue with the striking unions.