There are indications that President Bola Tinubu might make an announcement regarding the new minimum wage on May 1, coinciding with International Labour Day, and potentially implementing it retroactively to April.
According to reports, the National Minimum Wage Committee is diligently working towards concluding all negotiations for the new rate. It is anticipated that the President will make an announcement regarding the new minimum wage in his address on Workers’ Day.
A committee member, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, revealed that the minimum wage committee is scheduled to convene again next week. It’s an ongoing gathering. That is a gathering where all the information from the zonal public hearings will be collected and summarised, providing the committee with guidance for their work.
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“Our target is to ensure that Mr President announces the minimum wage by the 1st of May, which is the Workers’ Day, for it to take effect from April. So, we are making efforts to meet the deadline.
When informed about the expiration of the current minimum wage on March 31, the committee member expressed doubt that the new rate would be finalised by then. They acknowledged that there is still a considerable amount of work to be done in determining a suitable minimum wage for the country.
The source mentioned that negotiations have not been reached at this point. Once the zones are completed, the overall outcome of the collected data will play a crucial role in shaping the decisions made by the main committee. Now that the zones are complete, the committee will gather and compile the positions of both the zones and committee members.
“The positions of the NLC, TUC, NECA (the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association) and the government will be looked at. Next, we will examine the overall data, calculate a percentage, and reach a satisfactory conclusion.
“We are going to make some adjustments. I am sure the committee will also have a private meeting with Mr President; they will look at the ability to pay, and then with the state governors. NECA will also be participating and we will explore how we can combine those perspectives. It is not a one-stop affair.”
Despite attempts to reach him, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed, has not been responsive to calls, text messages, or WhatsApp messages, Punch reports.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, mentioned that he is not fully aware of the internal discussions of the committee. However, he confirmed that the committee members are currently engaged in ongoing discussions and are aware of the importance of their task.
Nevertheless, a presidential aide, speaking anonymously due to not being the official spokesperson for the President, mentioned that Tinubu might announce the new minimum wage before May 1 if the committee finishes its work on time. It was also mentioned that the new wage should ideally take effect on April 1.
According to the aide, it is unlikely that the government will wait until May 1 to announce the minimum wage. According to the law, the conclusion should be reached by early April.
Why is there a delay in making the announcement if both parties are in agreement? As negotiations are currently underway, it is important to note that according to the law, these negotiations should be finalised by April.
