Minimum wage must not harm economy, cause retrenchment, FG tells Labour
NLC faults Tinubu’s speech on wage pact, to reject offer
MINISTER of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has urged organised labour to settle for a national minimum wage that will not undermine the national economy and lead to mass retrenchment of workers. However, the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC) faulted President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day speech, insisting that no agreement had been reached with the Federal Government and other employers on minimum wage.
Idris, who appealed while declaring open the 2024 Synod of the Charismatic
Bishops Conference of Nigeria, yesterday, in Abuja, noted the need for a realistic and sustainable wage system that balances workers’ needs with the country’s economic realities.
He expressed the government’s commitment to reviewing the minimum wage but cautioned against demands that could harm the economy.
The minister highlighted the government’s efforts to reduce the cost of living and increase Nigerians’ purchasing power through programmes like the Presidential CNG Initiative, which aims to cut transportation costs by 50 per cent.
He said: “As I have repeatedly said, the Federal Government is not opposed to the increase of wages for Nigerian workers, but we keep on advocating a realistic and sustainable wage system for the workers – a wage system that will not undermine the economy, lead to mass retrenchment of workers and jeopardise the welfare of about 200 million Nigerians.
“We want the labour unions to understand that the relief Nigerians are expecting, and that they fully deserve, will not come only in the form of an increase in wages. It will also come as efforts to reduce the cost of living and to ensure that more money stays in the pockets of Nigerians. This is where programmes like the Presidential CNG Initiative come in. By replacing or complementing petrol usage with CNG, that programme alone will cut transportation costs by as much as 50 per cent.” The minister appealed to the clergy to support Tinubu’s vision for Nigeria’s renaissance and to pray for wisdom and guidance as the country navigates its current challenges.