The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Tuesday decided to step down a memorandum on the report from the Tripartite Committee regarding the new national minimum wage.
According to the FEC, the move will allow for further consultations between President Bola Tinubu, state governors, local government authorities and the private sector.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who made the announcement, during a press briefing at the State House in Abuja explained that the council opted to delay action on the memo as the Federal Government is not the only stakeholder involved in the national minimum wage issue.
The President, according to Idris, needs to engage with other wage-paying entities to incorporate their inputs and circumstances before drafting an executive bill to present to the National Assembly.
“I want to inform Nigerians here that the Federal Executive Council deliberated on that (minimum wage) and the decision is that because the new national minimum wage is not just that of the Federal Government, it is an issue that involves the Federal Government, the state governments, local governments, and the organised private sector and of course, including the organised labour.
“That memo was stepped down to enable Mr President to consult further, especially with the state governors and the organised private sector, before he makes a presentation to the National Assembly before an executive bill is presented to the National Assembly.
“So I want to state that on the new national minimum wage, Mr President is going to consult further so that he can have an informed position because the new national minimum wage, as I said, is not just an issue of the Federal Government,” Idris stated.
The Tripartite Committee, established in January, had proposed raising the minimum wage to N62,000 from the current N30,000. This committee includes representatives from the government, organised labour, and the private sector. However, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have demanded a living wage of N250,000.
The FEC’s decision follows a recent statement by NLC President, Joe Ajaero, expressing disappointment that President Tinubu had not yet reached out to the Tripartite Committee to harmonise the proposed figures. Ajaero noted that the organised labour expected this step due to a deadlock at the end of the Tripartite Committee meeting.
As consultations continue, the President is set to consider all perspectives to ensure an informed decision before presenting the new minimum wage proposal to the National Assembly for legislative approval.
