The federal government has appealed to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to suspend their indefinite strike and return to the negotiation table.
The strike, which began on Monday, is over the government’s refusal to increase the minimum wage to N494,000.
According to Information Minister Mohammed Idris, the tripartite committee is willing to establish a realistic minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
However, the government considers the proposed N494,000 minimum wage unviable and seeks a balanced solution that won’t harm the economy.
The NLC and TUC argue that the current minimum wage expired on April 19, 2024, and the recent electricity tariff increase has added to workers’ hardship.
They reject the government’s counter-offer of N60,000, citing insensitive economic policies.
“We will continue to engage and make ourselves available for these negotiations on behalf of the Nigerian people,” said Mr Idris.
The labour unions demand a living wage, citing international best practices and legal standards. President Bola Tinubu has pledged to address economic challenges with human-faced policies.
