The 37-member tripartite committee tasked with deliberating on the new minimum wage, slated for announcement by President Bola Tinubu on May 1, 2024, is set to reconvene in mid-April to continue negotiations and consultations.
Hakeem Ambali, the National Treasurer of the Nigeria Labour Congress and a member of the committee, revealed in an interview that the panel is still in the process of collating and analyzing reports from zonal public hearings.
Conducted across the six geo-political zones between March 27 and March 28, 2024, these hearings solicited input on the minimum wage issue, aiming to address regional disparities and cushion the impact of subsidy removal on Premium Motor Spirit.
The suggested wage amounts varied significantly across regions, with proposals ranging from N485,000 to N850,000. Ambali refrained from disclosing specific details about the committee’s recent meeting but confirmed plans for further discussions in mid-April.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Tinubu, established the 37-member panel on January 30, 2024, underscoring the urgency of its task given the impending expiration of the current N30,000 minimum wage.
Addressing the panel, Shettima emphasized the need for a prompt resolution, highlighting the importance of timely submission to ensure the emergence of a new wage structure. The House of Representatives had previously moved to amend the National Minimum Wage Act to mandate a compulsory review of workers’ remuneration every five years, signaling a commitment to addressing labor concerns on a recurring basis.
