By Olawale Lamina
The Federal Government is has announced plans to set a timetable for negotiations that will pave the way for the introduction of a new national minimum wage to address economic hardship being faced by Nigerian workers.
This was made known in Abuja on Tuesday by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr Kamil Shoretire, during a capacity-building workshop organised for labour correspondents.
The Perm Sec. confirmed that deliberations were underway to set an official date for negotiations.
“We are yet to announce the timetable for that, but background discussions are already ongoing.
Dr. Shoretire said: “When it’s time to get the press involved in what has been proposed and what is being negotiated, it will be revealed to you.”
He revealed that the federal government was also engaging workers in sectors where disputes over salaries and allowances have lingered.
The present consideration followed pressure from organised labour groups to review the current N70,000 national minimum wage approved by the Federal Government in 2024, in the face of high cost of living which the current wage cannot adequately address.
Part of demands by the labour union and affiliates is wage increase from N70,000 to N500,000 and an immediate wage award.
And following hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel Subsidy by the Tinubu-led government, the workers also demanded a reasonable reduction in the petrol pump price to at least N500 per litre.
Petrol otherwise known as PMS sells for N1,350 and N1,400 per liter in different parts of the country.
And despite calls for removal of Subsidy of petroleum products, the government has continued to argued it has become necessary for execution of capital projects and other programmes and a means to ensure a self- sustaining oil sector and diversification of the Nigerian economy.
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