The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has firmly rejected the Nigerian government's proposal to marginally increase the new minimum wage from N60,000.
TUC President Festus Osifo conveyed this stance on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s "Politics Today" program. Osifo stated, “We informed them that adding small amounts like N1,000, N2,000, or N3,000 is unacceptable, and we received assurances that more substantial improvements would be made.”
Both the TUC and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) initiated an indefinite strike on Monday, advocating for a significant wage increase. The labor organizations demanded a minimum wage of N494,000, while the government proposed N60,000.
Following a meeting between government officials and labor leaders, the strike was suspended. President Bola Tinubu has since instructed Finance Minister Wale Edun to assess the financial implications of a new minimum wage within 48 hours.