President Bola Tinubu is set to engage state governors in discussions on the new national minimum wage during the 142nd meeting of the National Economic Council at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.
The announcement of President Tinubu’s participation was made by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, during a visit to Kano, where he conveyed condolences to Vice President Kashim Shettima on the passing of his mother-in-law. Gbajabiamila described the President’s presence at the NEC meeting as unusual and crucial.
“He is indeed saddened and he wished he was here with you. You know our President is very ubiquitous, he can be in a million places at the same time, but unfortunately, this bill, as you well know, calls for him to be at the seat of power.
“Indeed, he will be joining you tomorrow and that’s how important his presence in Abuja is right now. He will be joining you tomorrow at the NEC meeting, which he ever hardly attends, this might even be his first meeting,” Gbajabiamila said.
The NEC meeting follows the recent decision by the Federal Executive Council to defer the report of the Tripartite Committee on New National Minimum Wage, citing the need for broader consultations with stakeholders including state governors, local government authorities, and the private sector.
According to Minister Idris, the Federal Government recognized that the issue of the new national minimum wage extends beyond federal jurisdiction, necessitating extensive consultations before any legislative action.
“On the new national minimum wage, Mr. President is going to consult further so that he can have an informed position because the new national minimum wage, as I said, is not just an issue of the federal government. It affects the state governments, it affects the local governments, it also affects the organised private sector, and that is why it is called the national minimum wage. It’s not just an affair of the federal government.
“So, Mr. President has studied the report and he’s going to consult wider before a final submission is being made to the National Assembly,” Idris explained.
Discussions between the Federal Government, Organised Private Sector, and Labour have previously proposed varying figures for the minimum wage, with labor leaders advocating for N250,000 while the government countered with N62,000. State governors, however, indicated their preference not to exceed N60,000.
The NEC, established under the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, convenes monthly under the chairmanship of the Vice President to advise the President on economic affairs and coordinate economic planning efforts across all levels of government.