Following calls by the labour unions for the upward review of the national minimum wage, the 37-member tripartite committee on minimum wage set up by the Federal Government is scheduled to reconvene mid-April to continue further negotiations and consultations on the new minimum wage expected to be announced by President Bola Tinubu on May 1, 2024.
In an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Sunday 31 March 2024, the National Treasurer of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Hakeem Ambali, who is also a member of the tripartite committee stated that the committee members are still collating and analyzing the reports gotten from the zonal public hearings.
Recall that the committee had received the reports of zonal public hearings carried out across the six geo-political zones of the country between Wednesday, March 27, 2024 and Thursday, March 28, 2024.
The minimum wage to be unveiled is expected to soft pedal the harsh effects of the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit.
Meanwhile, during the public hearings, different zones had suggested different amounts for minimum wage.
It was learnt that the South West zone had suggested N794,000; the North East proposed N560,000 as minimum wage; North West proposed N485,000; the North Central proposed N709,000; South South demanded N850,000 while the South East demanded N540,000.
Speaking on the outcome of the recently held meeting, Ambali simply noted, “ We have been compiling and analysing zonal reports.”
When asked about the date fixed for the next meeting of the committee, he said, “Mid-April.”
On January 30, 2024, Tinubu, through Vice President Kashim Shettima, set up the 37-member panel at the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja.
The panel which is set to recommend a new national minimum wage for the country drew its membership from federal and state governments, the private sector, and organised labour.
In his opening address, Shettima charged members to “speedily” arrive at a resolution and submit their reports early as the current N30,000 minimum wage expires at the end of March 2024.
He stressed that the timely submission is crucial to ensure the emergence of a new minimum wage.
In May 2017, the House of Representatives moved to amend the National Minimum Wage Act for a compulsory review of workers’ remuneration every five years.
