Presidency Denies N105,000 As Proposed New Minimum Wage For Workers

Presidency Denies Proposing N105,000 as New Minimum Wage

The Nigerian Presidency has refuted claims that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, presented a proposal of N105,000 as the new minimum wage to President Bola Tinubu. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Strategy, dismissed these reports as false but did not provide the accurate proposal figure.

According to officials familiar with the matter, the minister had allegedly tabled the N105,000 proposal. However, Onanuga’s statement contradicts this, emphasizing that no such proposition was made by Edun.

Earlier reports indicated that on June 4, President Tinubu instructed the finance minister, Wale Edun, to develop a new wage template within two days. The discrepancy in wage expectations between organized labor and the government remains, with labor unions demanding N494,000 while the government proposes N60,000.

The ongoing nationwide strike, which began on Monday and was temporarily relaxed for one week, reflects the impasse in negotiations. Despite the government’s commitment to pay above N60,000, there has been no tangible progress in reaching a resolution.

Festus Osifo, President of the Trade Union Congress, highlighted the absence of any new offer from the government, indicating that discussions have primarily focused on principles rather than concrete proposals. He clarified that there has been no offer beyond N60,000 on the table.

This situation underscores the ongoing challenges in wage negotiations and the need for transparent communication between the government and labor unions. As both parties seek to address the issue of minimum wage, finding common ground becomes imperative to avoid prolonged disruptions and ensure the welfare of workers across the country.

SaharaReporters