Reports have emerged on the internet with the claim that President Muhammadu Buhari might increase the minimum wage of Nigerian workers after today’s meeting between the Federal Government delegation and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
According to a report by Daily Times, the meeting is to deliberate on modalities that will guide negotiations for the new N56,000 minimum wage proposed by the Worker Union.
Confirming the proposed talks scheduled to hold today, November 2, 2016, NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, described the renewed negotiation as a step in the right direction.
Wabba said, “We have submitted that demand. As I speak with you, the negotiation committee has not even taken off, but what I was informed two days ago, is that the process has been ongoing at different levels, because there are various people driving the process.
“Based on this submission, the Labour leaders met on Monday, October 31st, to finalize their position, preparatory to their meeting with the government team today.
“They will then meet with the government side on Tuesday. They want to tidy up the report, including the membership of the team, that is supposed to negotiate the minimum wage.”
Wabba also added that “workers are on daily basis being exposed (to high cost of living), and the purchasing power is going down, especially with the issue of the exchange rate.”
“They will be meeting tomorrow (Tuesday), and they are also trying to round off, because they said they wanted the report to then go to the Presidency for formal approval, because at the end of the day, the President must be involved. I want to assure you that we have not relented,” he added.
