President Bola Tinubu is poised to unveil the revised minimum wage on May 1, coinciding with the International Labour Day. Sources indicate that the implementation of the new wage will be backdated to April, ensuring prompt relief for workers.
The National Minimum Wage Committee has been diligently working to finalize all negotiations and ensure readiness before the anticipated announcement. A committee member, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter, revealed that the committee will convene again in the coming week. This meeting will serve as an opportunity to consolidate the reports from the zonal public hearings and provide guidance for the committee’s future actions.
“Our target is for Mr. President to declare the new minimum wage on May 1, Workers’ Day, with the intended implementation from April. We are committed to meeting this timeline,” the committee member stated.
While the current minimum wage of N30,000 is set to expire on March 31, it is unlikely that the new rate will be ready before that date. The negotiation process is still ongoing, and there is still considerable work ahead to determine an agreeable minimum wage for the country.
The tripartite committee, inaugurated by Vice President Kashim Shettima in January, comprises representatives from the federal and state governments, the private sector, and organized labor. This committee’s primary objective is to propose a revised national minimum wage for Nigeria.
During the zonal public hearings held in various locations, differing wage demands were presented. The North-West workers requested N485,000, while the North-East called for N560,000. The North-Central suggested N709,000 (NLC) and N447,000 (TUC), while the South-West proposed N794,000. The South-South workers demanded N850,000, and the South-East put forth N540,000 (NLC) and N447,000 (TUC). However, the Adamawa and Bauchi state governments recommended N45,000 as the new minimum wage.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has emphasized that governors who fail to implement the new minimum wage, once it becomes law, would be in violation of the law itself. The NLC also expressed its determination to impose stricter sanctions on such non-compliant governors.
Benson Upah, spokesperson for the NLC, stressed that while the Federal Government has consistently met its minimum wage obligations, many governors have fallen short. He affirmed, “Refusing to pay the new minimum wage would be a violation of the law since it will be a national law. We are working to ensure that adequate sanctions are established to deter these defiant governors. Historically, the Federal Government has adhered to minimum wage payment without failure, whereas the number of non-compliant governors has been minimal.”
Echoing these sentiments, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) deemed it unacceptable for governors to undermine the implementation of living wages through divisive tactics. The TUC emphasized that state governments had no justification for non-compliance since they now have increased financial resources.
Dr. Tommy Etim, Deputy President of the TUC, highlighted that the forthcoming amended minimum wage law would include penalties for state governors and private sector employers who resist paying the agreed-upon wage. He affirmed, “The Act will be amended to address these issues and establish penalties. It will account for exclusions, penalties, and enforcement measures against recalcitrant governors and employers.”
In Ogun State, the TUC Chairman Akeem Lasisi made it clear that workers would not accept any excuses from the state government regarding the implementation delay of the new minimum wage. Lasisi emphasized that once the Federal Government announces the new wage, the state government should promptly implement it. He stressed the importance of well-compensated and motivated workers for national development and urged state governments to prioritize the welfare of workers.
“With our governor actively involved in the negotiations, we have an advantage here in Osun State. It should not be challenging for state governments to fulfill their obligation to pay the new minimum wage. Let us escape from the doom and embrace progress to ensure worker satisfaction,” Fasasi, a representative from Osun State, add