President Bola Tinubu has hinted that a sustainable minimum wage will be recommended for legislative action by the National Assembly.
This comes after the Tripartite Committee’s negotiations resulted in a recommended minimum wage of N62,000, which falls short of Labour’s demand for N250,000.
The President’s comment was made at a dinner to mark Democracy Day, where he addressed the Senate President and Deputy Senate President, saying, “You’ll get a notice if I’ve changed my mind on minimum wage.”
This suggests that the President’s decision on the matter is imminent.
The Tripartite Committee’s recommendation has been submitted to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and the President is now expected to send his approved recommendation as a bill to the National Assembly, according to The Nation.
The labour union’s demand for a higher minimum wage of N250,000 remains unresolved, and it is unclear whether the President’s decision will meet their expectations.
“We’re going to do it; what Nigeria can afford, what you can afford, what I can afford. They ask you to cut your coat according to your size if you have size at all.”
Pro-democracy activists and top government officials across the three arms were at the event, including Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, Senator Shehu Sani and George Mba.
Adding colour to the evening, Vice President Kashim Shettima, pro-democracy icons, including Prof Bolaji Akiyemi, Chief Segun Osoba, Senator Sani, Minister of Solid Minerals, Mr. Dele Alake, took the stage to recall President Tinubu’s role in the struggle that eventually crystallized into democratic rule.
At the event were: Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau; House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu; Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
Others were: National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila; and the wife of the Vice President, Nana Shettima; Babagana Kingibe; Chief Pius Akinyelure; Chief Bisi Akande; Senator Abu Ibrahim.
Some of the governors in attendance were Hope Uzodinma (Imo); Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom); Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo); Usman Ododo (Kogi); Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta); Uba Sani (Kaduna); Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau); Alex Otti (Abia) and Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers)
The ministers included: Lateef Fagbemi, (Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation); Wale Edun (Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy); Mohammed Idris (Information and National Orientation); Bayo Adelabu (Power); Atiku Bagudu (Budget and National Planning) and Abubakar Kyari (Agriculture and Rural Development).
