The Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government has officially declared that the implementation of the new minimum wage will kick off on May 1, 2024.
This decision comes even as the Tripartite Committee On National Minimum Wage continues its negotiations.
During the May Day celebration in Abuja, the Minister of State Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, announced this development to Nigerian workers. She expressed regret that the new national minimum wage was not finalized before the set date but assured that extensive consultations are ongoing to expedite the process.
In a separate event, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, put forth a demand for a living wage of ₦615,000 for Nigerian workers. Ajaero justified this figure by considering various essential factors such as housing, electricity, fuel, transport, food, medical needs, clothing, education, sanitation, and transportation.
Ajaero further challenged individuals to scrutinize the components of the ₦615,000 living wage demand to determine if there would be any room for savings when compensating workers at that rate.
