The federal government is reportedly open to the idea of increasing the minimum wage to N200,000 per month, as demanded by the organised labour in the country. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is said to be in support of this move, citing his campaign promises as evidence of his readiness to tackle the challenge.
At a National Economic Council (NEC) meeting last month, the Salaries, Incomes & Wages Commission presented a plan on how the federal government could meet the N200,000 per month minimum wage demand. However, state governors, led by Anambra State governor Charles Soludo, raised questions about the proposal and its financial implications.
To address the issue, a sub-committee was formed, including governors from different states and representatives from various government bodies. The sub-committee established a Technical Working Group (TWG) led by Governor Soludo to examine the issues surrounding the minimum wage increase. Negotiations with the organised labour will be conducted separately with both the federal and state governments.
The TWG has already held several meetings to discuss the matter, and later this month, the NEC will meet to receive the sub-committee’s report and make a final decision on the national minimum wage. It is likely that federal government workers will receive the substantial wage increase, while the fate of state workers will be determined by the Soludo-led TWG.
