As part of efforts to quickly negotiate a new national minimum wage for workers in Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has approved the inauguration of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum wage.
The committee will be inaugurated this Tuesday at the Council Chambers of the State House complex in Abuja by 12 noon.
According to an invitation letter from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume to various members of the committee, invited individuals are to be seated at the Council Chambers by 11:30am.
Mr. President has repeatedly made it clear that he intends to pay Nigerian workers a “living wage” and the inauguration of the committee marks a significant step towards the implementation.
The Tripartite Committee comprise representatives of the government (federal, state and local governments), labour unions and the organised private sector. Final recommendation from the committee is expected to be forwarded by the President to the national assembly as part of a new minimum wage bill.
While presenting the 2024 Appropriation bill to the national assembly late last year, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu revealed that expected increase in salaries and wages of federal civil servants has been factored in the budget ahead of a future agreement on the new minimum wage.
The removal of fuel subsidy and the attendant increase in the cost of living led to clamour by organised labour for a new minimum wage to cushion the effects of the rising cost of living and inflation. The President eventually announced a temporary wage award of N35,000 to all treasury-paid workers ahead of a review of the minimum wage, which ordinarily was due for review in March 2024.