President Bola Tinubu is poised to introduce a revised minimum wage for Nigerian workers in the upcoming week, as disclosed by Comrade Festus Osifo, President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
This announcement follows a pivotal meeting between the TUC and the federal government, centered around the elimination of fuel subsidies.
The federal government, represented by Minister of Labour Simon Lalong, has confirmed engaging in discussions with President Tinubu and Minister of Finance Wale Edun concerning the wage matter.
Comrade Osifo shared these insights during an appearance on ChannelsTV’s “Politics Today” program on Tuesday evening, September 19, 2023.
“The minister of labour told us that he had an audience with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the minister of finance and had reviewed the issue of wage award. But the president asked them to fine-tune the issues before he makes the announcement,” explained the TUC president.
Osifo further emphasised that the TUC had given the federal government a two-week ultimatum to address their demands or face the prospect of nationwide industrial action.
Despite Minister Lalong’s request for additional time due to the president’s travel commitments, the TUC remained steadfast in their resolve for a swift resolution.
“The minister told us all these issues would be streamlined, but because the president has traveled, we should give him an extra two weeks. We said no; we don’t have an extra two weeks to give. After more discussions, he said the president would make a proper announcement next week,” disclosed Osifo.
Apart from addressing the minimum wage issue, the TUC has actively collaborated with the federal government regarding the equitable distribution of palliatives among the various states.
Comrade Osifo emphasized their unwavering dedication to overseeing the just and efficient allocation of these relief measures. He highlighted their keen interest in scrutinizing the implementation plan. Furthermore, the discussions also encompassed matters related to taxation and the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
