The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have yet again rejected the new minimum wage proposed by the Federal Government.

A source, who said he was not authorised to speak with the media on the matter, noted that at the meeting with labour leaders yesterday in Abuja, government had offered a fresh proposal of N54,000 as the new minimum wage for workers – a N6, 000 difference from the N48,000 proposal first rejected by the unions.

While noting that the new proposed sum was still a far cry from labour’s N615, 000 demand give the current economic realities in the country, the source maintained that the proposed amount was totally unacceptable.

Organised labour while agreeing to meet with government after staging a walkout when government proposed the lower sum at the last meeting, warned that it’s May 31 ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet its demands which it also insisted were non-negotiable, given the hardship Nigerians were currently passing through, still stands.

Labour, in a communique jointly issued by both unions and signed by their Presidents, Comrade Joe Ajaero and Comrade Festus Osifo on Monday in Abuja after their National Executive Council (NEC) meetings, unanimously agreed that government must prioritise the welfare of citizens who elected them into office, by reversing the electricity tariff hike and also agree to a minimum wage that reflects the true value of Nigerian workers’ contributions to national development.