The Federal Government has extended an olive branch to labour unions for renewed negotiations over the proposed new minimum wage after representatives of workers suspended their participation in the last round of talks.
According to sources close to the matter, the government is eager to resolve the impasse surrounding the new minimum wage promptly.
However, uncertainties loom over whether an agreement can be reached before the May 31 deadline set by labour for concluding the negotiations.
READ ALSO: Labour Rejects FG’s N48,000 Minimum Wage Proposal
Grassroots Parrot reported about the previous meeting of the Bukar Goni Aji-led 37-man Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage, in which the government proposed N48,000 as the new minimum wage.
This figure fell far short of the N615,000 demanded by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), leading to the withdrawal of union representatives from the negotiation table.
In a bid to break the deadlock, Alhaji Goni Aji, the committee chairman, has scheduled another meeting with labour leaders for Tuesday, May 21.
READ ALSO: Labour Sends Fresh N615,000 Minimum Wage Demand To FG
He expressed the government’s willingness to reconsider its N48,000 offer and urged all parties to be prepared to compromise to facilitate a resolution.
In a letter dated May 16, 2024, inviting the unions to the upcoming meeting, Goni Aji emphasized the importance of reconvening for negotiations, stating, “We need to all sit back on the negotiation table to analyze the tripartite position and shift grounds by all sides to enable us to conclude the assignment.”
Meanwhile, there are doubts regarding the feasibility of meeting the May 31 deadline. A Presidency source cautioned that the negotiation was ongoing and it was uncertain whether an agreement could be reached by the stipulated time.
READ ALSO: FG Calls For Emergency Meeting Over Minimum Wage Deadline
Echoing a similar sentiment, a source at the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission described the negotiation as a “work in progress.”
President Bola Tinubu had previously indicated the government’s openness to considering a national living wage instead of a minimum wage, acknowledging the concerns raised by workers regarding their living conditions.
READ ALSO: NLC Directs Members to Picket Labour Party Secretariats Nationwide
The demand for a N615,000 minimum wage was explained by Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, who detailed the breakdown of expenses, including accommodation, feeding, medicals, education, utilities, and energy components.
The Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage was inaugurated on January 30, 2024, with the task of formulating a new minimum wage ahead of the expiration of the current N30,000 wage on April 18. The committee comprises representatives from the government, private sector, and organised labour.