The Federal Government has increased its proposed minimum wage from N57,000 to N60,000 during a meeting of the tripartite committee on minimum wage held in Abuja on Tuesday. This adjustment came after organized labor, represented by the Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Labour Congress, reduced their proposal from N497,000 to N494,000.
However, according to a source familiar with the discussions at the meeting, the government’s revised proposal did not meet the expectations of labor leaders. The source indicated that organized labor was willing to lower its demand further only if the government made a more significant upward adjustment to its proposal.
Speaking before the meeting commenced, a member of the union emphasized that labor’s willingness to compromise depended on the government presenting a more reasonable offer. The source highlighted the importance of internal consultations within the labor movement to ensure a unified stance during negotiations.
In essence, the negotiation process between the government and organized labor hinges on finding a middle ground that satisfies both parties’ concerns and interests.
