Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has made it clear that the federal government did not present any specific wage figures during their closed-door negotiations. This statement comes amidst ongoing discussions concerning the national minimum wage.

The NLC, which has been at the forefront of advocating for a fair minimum wage, declared an indefinite nationwide strike starting on June 3, 2024, due to the government’s reluctance to increase the proposed minimum wage above N60,000¹. Despite the government’s final offer of N60,000, the labor unions have deemed the proposal insufficient, countering with a demand for a N494,000 minimum wage.

The wage talks have been a point of contention, with the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) setting a deadline of May 31 for the government to establish a new wage policy. The discussions have been fraught with tension, particularly between state and federal governments, over economic realities and political promises.

As the negotiations continue, the NLC’s stance remains firm, with Ajaero’s recent clarification indicating that the discussions are far from over. The labor unions are steadfast in their pursuit of a living wage that reflects the current economic conditions, and the NLC’s rejection of the 35% pay rise proposal further underscores the gap between the government’s offers and the unions’ expectations⁵.

The federal government has assured that President Bola Tinubu is committed to paying a new monthly minimum wage above the initial offer of N60,000. However, with no specific figures presented, the path to a resolution remains unclear. The NLC and TUC have agreed to meet daily for the next week with the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage in hopes of reaching a final agreement.