The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has disclosed that organised labour was given an ultimatum to either accept N62,000 or get N250,000 minimum wage with a fuel price hike.
Ajaero made the disclosure while speaking with Arise TV on Friday night following President Bola Tinubu’s approval of N70,000 as the new minimum wage.
Revealing the process behind the approval, he shared, “It is the tripartite committee which comprises of the organised private sector, government, and labour committee that negotiates minimum wage.
“After negotiation, they came to N62,000, then it was labour that said no and submitted their report to the president awaiting transmission to the National Assembly and then another round of talks.
“Last week Thursday, the president met with us and gave me many analyses. Even while we were negotiating at N60,000, the governors insisted on not paying, that it would be difficult, but we continued moving.
“The president gave us two options, ‘I can pay you N250,000 if you allow me to increase the pump price of petroleum, and he said, Ajaero, on my first day I said subsidy is gone, and since that time you have refused to allow me to increase more, so where will I get the money to pay you minimum wage?
“If you allow me, I pay you N250,000. If not, take N62,000. I’m giving you one hour to talk. Let me stay in my office so we can conclude this meeting.’”