The ongoing minimum wage negotiations between the FG and Labour Unions have hit a roadblock as the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress have withdrawn from the discussions, labeling the offers made by the government and the Organized Private Sector (OPS) as “ridiculous.”
The decision to withdraw came following what the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) referred to as unacceptable offers of N48,000 and N54,000, respectively, by the government and the OPS.
While the Labour Union presented statistics to substantiate its demand for a higher wage, it has been reported that the government did not provide any supporting data during the negotiations, according to individuals who were present at the meeting.
This development underscores the growing tension between workers’ representatives and government officials over the issue of minimum wage, with the disparity in offers exacerbating the already strained negotiations.
The withdrawal of the Labour Union from the discussions raises concerns about the future of the minimum wage policy and its implications for workers across various sectors of the economy.