The Organised Labour has rejected the Federal Government’s proposal of N54,000 as a new minimum wage for workers in the country.

The Labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) rejected the offer after a meeting with the government’s representatives in Abuja on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

The unions had agreed to continue negotiations with the tripartite committee on minimum wage on Tuesday.

It was gathered that the Federal Government, during the meeting, offered N54,000 while labour insisted on its N615,000 living wage demand.

Sources further disclosed that the meeting held behind closed doors in Abuja was adjourned to Wednesday, May 22, to continue with negotiations.

Minimum wage: Labour insists on May 31 deadline, meets FG Tuesday

The unions had, on Tuesday, insisted they would not shift ground on the May 31st deadline on mobilising workers and the masses to cripple economic activities nationwide, given to the federal government to meet their demands.

It would be recalled that the unionists walked out of their last meeting with the government’s side of the negotiating team, which offered N48,000 as the new minimum wage, against the N615,000 proposed by labour.

The unionists expressed disappointment that the government was proposing a wage reduction instead of an increment, in the face of current harsh economic realities.

They said: “We are disappointed as negotiations at the Tripartite National Minimum Wage resumed today but reached an unfortunate impasse as result of the apparent unseriousness of the government to engage in reasonable negotiation with Nigerian workers.

“Despite earnest efforts to reach an equitable agreement, the less than reasonable action of the Government and the Organised Private Sector (OPS) has led to a breakdown in negotiations.

“The government’s proposal of a paltry N48,000 as the minimum wage does not only insult the sensibilities of Nigerian workers but also falls significantly short of meeting our needs and aspirations.”

The Star