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Minimum wage: we will pay what we can afford, Tinubu says

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has said his administration would only pay what it could afford as minimum wage.

Tinubu reportedly said this during the 25th Democracy Day Dinner at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja on Wednesday, June 12.

He told the leadership of the National Assembly, who were present at the dinner, that an executive bill would sent to the lawmakers soon.

“Senate President, Deputy Senate President, you’ll get a notice on the minimum wage. We’re going to do it; what Nigeria can afford, what you can afford, what I can afford. They ask you to cut your coat according to your size if you have size at all”, Tinubu said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, urged organised labour in Nigeria to accept a sustainable minimum wage proposed by the federal government.

He urged the labour unions to accept a realistic wage system which would not undermine the economy or lead to mass retrenchment of workers.



Labour unions in Nigeria are demanding an increase in workers’ minimum wage, citing economic hardships.

While the workers initially demanded N615,000, the Nigerian government offered N46,000 at first before increasing it to N60,000, which the workers rejected.




     

     

    Both parties failed to reach a consensus during negotiations in May, and labour declared an indefinite strike on Monday, June 3, during which the nation’s power supply was cut off and the country, thrown into darkness.

    Schools, airports, and train stations, among others, were also shut down.

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    The strike was suspended, however, on the second day after a meeting between both parties.

    While the government increased its offer to N62,000, there has been no official agreement as this offer has again been rejected by the workers who now demand N250,000.

    Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via vopara@icirnigeria.org or @ije_le on Twitter.

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