The Senate has appealed to the federal government to continue paying the N35,000 minimum wage amid fears of a nationwide strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, made the plea after a closed-door meeting with representatives from the NLC and TUC.
The lawmakers urged the organised labour to shelve their plans for an industrial action, which would have severe consequences on the economy. The NLC and TUC had threatened to embark on a strike to force the government to implement a new minimum wage.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, stated that the government is willing to continue paying the N35,000 minimum wage until a common ground is reached in the ongoing negotiations.
The TUC president, Festus Osifo, replied that he would relay the government’s pleas to the bodies he represents, but could not alone call off the strike.
The meeting included top government officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and Ministers of Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Finance, Wale Edun, and Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu.
Earlier, the tripartite committee’s meeting on the new minimum wage was postponed indefinitely after the federal government raised its proposal from N57,000 to N60,000.
