President Bola Tinubu has expressed his commitment to improving the welfare of Nigerian workers, emphasizing the need for better wages and working conditions.
He made these remarks during a meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) in Abuja.
President Tinubu stated, “I pay attention to everything around me. A happy worker is a productive worker. And society depends on the productivity of the happy worker.”
However, the President urged for realistic expectations regarding the minimum wage, noting, “You have to cut your coat according to available cloth. Before we can finalize on the minimum wage process, we have to look at the structure.”
He further questioned the current frequency of wage adjustments, suggesting a more flexible approach: “Why must we adjust wages every five years? Why not two? Why not three years? What is a problem today, can be eased up tomorrow. There is much dynamism to this process if we are not myopic in our approaches. We can take a surgical approach that is based on pragmatism and a deep understanding of all factors.”
NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, stressed the need for an increase in the minimum wage, saying, “Between living wage and minimum wage, we need to find a balance. Things are difficult for the Nigerian worker.”
He also congratulated President Tinubu on the Supreme Court judgement affirming the constitutional rights of local governments, stating, “We have been in the streets protesting for local government autonomy. Now that there is light at the end of the tunnel, it will amount to ungratefulness if we fail to commend you.”
TUC President, Comrade Festus Osifo, pointed out that inflation has reduced the value of the naira and emphasized the importance of government measures to reduce the cost of living. He mentioned the benefits of Compressed Natural Gas-powered buses and the suspension of duties on certain food imports as steps to lower transportation and food costs.
“We commend you on the landmark judgement of the Supreme Court. History will not forget what has happened today. With this judgement, we believe Nigeria will make progress,” Comrade Osifo added.
Further discussions are scheduled for next week to allow for broader consultations with all stakeholders.
