President Bola Tinubu is expected to transmit the New National Minimum Wage to the National Assembly next week after meeting with the leadership of the Organized Labour.
Briefing State House correspondents at the end of FEC, meeting, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said that the President will transmit the executive bill after the meeting with the organized labour on Thursday.
Noting that the president is not averse to a new national minimum wage, he said the administration is conscious of approving what can be borne not just by the federal government but also by sub-nationals.
He said the president has directed the Ministry of Budget and National Planning to come up with additional support under the 2024 budget.
According to him, the amendment would take care of the new minimum wage among other things.
Idris stated: “Now, you are also aware that last week, the Nigeria Labour Congress met the president. This of course was part of the consultation that the President has agreed.
“Recall that he had met the organized labour sector. He had also met sub-nationals after the tripartite committee on Labour had submitted its report to ensure that there was a thorough analysis of the situation so that the government would come up with a minimum wage that works for all Nigerians, federal government, the sub-nationals, and the organised private sector. That was also discussed today.
“And government has also directed the Ministry of Budget to come up with additional support for the 2024 budget, so that any differential or any gaps that will exist in terms of what existed before the 2024 budget was approved, a supplementary budget, and also what the requirement for now.
“So, the government is working around the clock to ensure that it comes up with a minimum wage, like I said that works for all Nigerians.
“At the end of the day, this of course will be submitted to the national assembly so that you can have legislative backing.”
The government spokesman revealed that President Tinubu will meet with the organized Labour on Thursday, saying: “Let me also say that the president is also open to meeting the Nigerian Labour, Trade Union Congress, and all the affiliates. We expect that meeting to be held this coming Thursday.
“Recall that this was already what the Labour unions requested during their meeting with Mr. President last week. “So, the President agrees, he knows that the Labour wants to quickly find a lasting solution to the issue of minimum and the government is also anxious to put the issue of minimum wage behind it.
“So, it is expected that the NLC, TUC and all the affiliates as requested by them last week, will meet the president on Thursday. And after which the president will now transmit whatever the final agreement or what his views are on the tripartite committee report to the national assembly for legislation,” the minister stated.
