Tinubu discusses the financial impact of the new minimum wage with Edun and Bagudu at the Villa
President Bola Tinubu recently met with Finance Minister Wale Edun and Budget and Economic Planning Minister Senator Atiku Bagudu at the State House to discuss the ongoing minimum wage negotiations.
On Tuesday, June 6, President Tinubu directed Minister Edun to come up with acceptable and realistic figures for the new national minimum wage and report back within two days.
During a meeting on Monday, organized by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume, it was revealed that President Tinubu is committed to setting the national minimum wage above ₦60,000.
However, the tripartite committee meeting on Wednesday was delayed because the government hadn’t presented a new wage figure, which was the task assigned to Minister Edun by the President.
After meeting with President Tinubu on Thursday, Minister Edun assured reporters there was no reason to worry.
A reliable source indicated that it’s likely Minister Edun submitted the new figures to the President following a separate meeting after the World Bank team’s visit.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, had earlier mentioned the President’s directive to provide new wage figures within two days. He appreciated the Labour Union for suspending their strike and noted the government’s commitment to negotiating an acceptable minimum wage for all Nigerians, including federal and state governments and the private sector.
Idris also mentioned a meeting on Tuesday attended by key officials to align the government’s plans with economic realities.
The tripartite committee’s Wednesday meeting was unproductive because the government team did not present new figures to the organized labour. The previously proposed ₦60,000 minimum wage was rejected by the labour unions, and a new figure is expected to be presented at a meeting today at 2 pm.
