Regina Otokpa 
head of a second meeting with President Bola Tinubu on the new Minimum Wage, sources within Organised Labour are still optimistic the N62,000 proposed by government would be increased substantially given current realities.
Recall that the Thursday’s meeting between Tinubu, some key government officials and Organised Labour had ended without any reasonable agreement on a new wage for workers.
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Joe Ajaero and President Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Comrade Festus Osifo, had both noted that although the meeting did not go into financial specifics, labour still maintained N250,000 as new minimum wage for workers in the country.
Our correspondent, has however gathered from sources not authorised to speak for Labour that given the empathetic disposition of the President towards the hardship confronting workers, there was hope of an increased amount at the next meeting.
“The President showed concerns and also expressed a deep understanding of the sufferings Nigerians are currently undergoing. We remain hopeful that Mr President will raise the proposed minimum wage from N62,000 to a more substantial figure when next leadership of labour meets with him.
“The President is human and we are keeping hope alive that by the time we delve into the value of minimum wage vis-a-vis the current economic challenges, especially the rising prices of goods and services, that N62,000 should change.”
Sunday Telegraph recalls that the NLC President, Comrade Ajaero, at the meeting, had emphasised the need for an upward adjustment to government’s proposed wage figure saying: “Between living wage and Minimum Wage, we need to find a balance. Things are difficult for Nigerians.”
The TUC President, Comrade Osifo, who lamented the harsh effects of inflation on the Naira and its consequences on day-to-day activities of the citizenry, had said there was need for government’s measures such as rollout of the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered buses and suspension of duty on some foodstuffs to kick in so that Nigerians can breathe some fresh air of relief.
President Tinubu on his part, had called for realistic expectations from workers, even as he noted: “I pay attention to everything around me. A happy worker is a productive worker and society depends on the productivity of the happy worker.”
