TUC sets N250,000 as minimum wage

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) is calling for accelerated negotiations on a new minimum wage in Nigeria.

Festus Osifo, TUC Secretary-General, made the call on Tuesday, as he addressed the annual convention of the Senior Petroleum and Natural Gas Staff Association of Nigeria Women’s Commission, stressing the urgency of the issue.

Lessons from 2019:

Osifo acknowledged the lengthy process surrounding previous minimum wage increases. Negotiations that began in 2017 only resulted in a new minimum wage being implemented in 2019. He assured the audience that the union was working to avoid similar delays.

Speed ​​up the process:

The TUC began negotiations in January 2024 and submitted its minimum wage proposal in June. However, President Buhari opted for broader consultations with governors, local governments and the private sector.

Behind the Scenes Negotiations:

Osifo stressed that the apparent media silence surrounding the negotiations does not indicate inactivity. Rather, the union is engaged in “internal work” to ensure the proposed new minimum wage meets the needs of “the poorest in society.” This behind-the-scenes work is aimed at quickly introducing a comprehensive bill to the National Assembly.

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Benchmark N250,000 Remaining:

He reiterated the TUC’s stance on the ideal minimum wage of N250,000, a figure he said remained their benchmark despite ongoing negotiations and consultations.

Uncertain Timeline:

While Osifo expressed optimism about a speedy resolution, the timetable for a new minimum wage remains unclear. The consultation process initiated by the President could prolong the negotiation phase.

Focus on the Vulnerable:

The TUC stressed their commitment to securing a minimum wage that uplifts the lives of the most vulnerable Nigerians. Their focus on internal work demonstrates a data-driven approach to supporting this goal in the proposed legislation.

The statement read, “Minimum wage negotiations should not end. The 2019 minimum wage (which has ended) took about two years to materialize. We started negotiations in 2017.

“We promised when we started in January (this year) that we would make sure it was done quickly, so that we would not be stuck in the same dilemma as in 2019, which took two years.

“So where we are today, we had a different position in June, when we did that, you know clearly the President came out to say that he wanted to consult with all parties, namely governors, local government leaders, the organized private sector, and labor, so we are doing some outreach and conversations.

“So what will be submitted to the House of Representatives is truly the minimum wage that will meet the needs of the poor, so because in the media we are silent, we are doing some internal work so that this bill will be submitted seriously. We remain adamant on the N250,000 benchmark as the ideal minimum wage.”

TUC insists on N250,000 benchmark as minimum wage first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.