In a significant turn of events, the nigerian labour congress(NLC) and the trade union congress(TUC) have agreed to suspend their indefinite strike following succesful negotiations with the federal government. this breakthrough was largely facilitated byn the efforts of minister of state labour, Nkiriuka onyejeocha, who played a pivotal role in mediating the discussions and addressing the unions’ demands.
Minister Onyejeocha has been at the forefront of efforts to bridge the gap between the government and labor unions, which have been pushing for a substantial increase in the national minimum wage. During the recent May Day celebrations in Abuja, she acknowledged the delay in implementing a new minimum wage but assured workers that the government is actively working on the issue through comprehensive consultations.
The labor unions have been demanding a new minimum wage of N615,000 to help workers manage the escalating cost of living in Nigeria. The current minimum wage, set at N30,000 by the Minimum Wage Act of 2019, is no longer sufficient due to inflation and other economic challenges. Compounding the issue, several state governors have not been compliant with the existing wage law, which technically expired in April.
President Bola Tinubu, in his Workers’ Day address delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima, acknowledged the vital role of Nigerian workers in the nation’s development. He expressed the government’s willingness to consider recommendations from the committee on the new national minimum wage and assured workers that his administration’s reform agenda aims to drive national progress.
The resolution reached between the government and labor leaders, including Onyejeocha, involves a commitment to daily meetings over the next week to finalize the new minimum wage. This agreement marks a significant step toward resolving the labor dispute and stabilizing Nigeria’s economic situation.
Minister Nkeiruka Onyejeocha’s active and effective engagement has been instrumental in bringing both sides to the negotiation table, demonstrating her crucial role as a mediator during this critical period for Nigerian labor relations
