In the ongoing discussions over a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers, organized labor unions have expressed a willingness to be flexible in their demands, indicating that they are not strictly adhering to a specific figure.
This development surfaced following the conclusion of the tripartite committee’s discussions on the matter last week. The committee, which includes representatives from the government, the organized private sector, and labor unions, has forwarded two proposed figures to President Bola Tinubu for his consideration.
The government and the private sector have jointly suggested a minimum wage of ₦62,000. In contrast, the labor unions had initially put forth a considerably higher demand of ₦250,000. However, Festus Osifo, the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), emphasized that “no figure is sacrosanct” and that there is always room for adjustment and negotiation.
“What we said is that for us, when we give figures, there is always a room to meander, there is always a room for us to do some adjustment here and there,” Osifo said during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief. He added that the unions are prepared to negotiate a mutually agreeable wage that reflects the economic realities of the nation.
The previous round of minimum wage negotiations had resulted in industrial action, as the labor unions felt that the government’s offer of ₦60,000 was unacceptable. Osifo noted that one of the reasons for the strike was that the government was unwilling to move beyond that figure.
With the newfound flexibility from the labor unions, the stage is set for further discussions and potential compromise as the government and the private sector seek to arrive at a minimum wage that addresses the concerns of all stakeholders.