There is apprehension that the failure to reach an agreement between the Federal government and Organised Labour on a new minimum wage might snowball into another round of industrial action in the days ahead.
The Tripartite Committee – comprising the governments (Federal and states), Organised Labour, and the Organised Private Sector (OPS) – on Friday, increased the new minimum wage over from N60,000 to N62,000.
But the Organised Labour has made up its mind, insisting on N250,000 figure.
At the end of the meeting on Friday night, the leadership of the tripartite committee said it would forward both positions to President Bola Tinubu, who is expected to study them and send a bill to the National Assembly for the final consideration of the new national minimum wage Act.
The N60,000 proposal had led the Organised Labour to withdraw from the negotiation table and declared an indefinite strike to press home its demands.
The President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero had declared on Tuesday that the workers would resume strike if their demands are not met.
At the end of the first day of the nationwide strike action on Monday, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, spearheaded a meeting with the Labour unions after which a four-point resolution was reached, including a commitment by President Bola Tinubu to pay a new minimum wage higher than the N60,000 offer.
Thus, Tinubu directed the Minister of Finance and Coordination Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, to present the cost implications for a new minimum wage within two days.
Though Edun has submitted the proposal to the president, it has not been made public.
