Presidency Faults Organised Labour Over ₦615,000 Minimum Wage Demand

Following the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero’s proposal of a N615,000 minimum wage, the Presidency has asserted its impracticality. Ajaero’s rationale for the proposed wage, based on economic analysis and family needs, was shared in an interview on Channels Television.

However, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, expressed the Federal Government’s inability to meet the labour unions’ wage demand in a conversation with The Punch. Onanuga emphasized the necessity for an agreed-upon wage feasible for both government and private sector, warning that the impasse in negotiations might persist without such consensus.

Onanuga stated, “The NLC President, Ajaero, told the public today they were asking for N615,000 per month as minimum wage. So, where will the money come from? Do we have that kind of money to pay? The government cannot afford any minimum wage that it cannot pay.”

He further conveyed the President’s anticipation for a forthcoming meeting where all parties could potentially reach a mutually acceptable agreement reflective of both governmental and private sector capacities.