Organised labour will meet with President Bola Tinubu again in seven days to continue discussions on the minimum wage for workers.
Speaking with State House correspondents in Abuja on Thursday, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State for Labour, expressed confidence that the minimum wage issue would soon be resolved.
News About Nigeria reports that the minister spoke shortly after President Bola Tinubu met with the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
“I am confident that the minimum wage issue will soon be resolved,” Onyejeocha said. “We are making progress in our discussions and we are hopeful that an agreement will be reached soon.”
The meeting between the President and labour leaders is a continuation of efforts to resolve the minimum wage dispute, which has been ongoing for several months.
The labour unions have been demanding an increase in the minimum wage, citing the high cost of living and the need for workers to be paid a living wage.
The government has been negotiating with the unions to find a mutually acceptable solution.
“It is a fruitful meeting, father and children. I think we are hopeful that very soon everything will be resolved,” she said.
“Of course, when father and children talk, you know what it is. That’s just exactly what has happened. It took us almost about an hour. I believe that it’s all for good.”
On his part, Joe Ajaero, NLC president, said the meeting was not a negotiation but a discussion with the president.
“In a real sense, it wasn’t a negotiation but a discussion, and we have had that discussion,” Ajaero said.
“We agreed to look at the real terms probably and reconvene in the next one week.
“So that’s where we are. We didn’t go down there to talk naira and kobo. At least there were some basic issues that we agreed on.
“We didn’t go into naira and kobo discussions. Now the status quo in terms of the amounts of N250,000 and N62,000 remains until we finish this conversation.”
Festus Osifo, TUC president, said the meeting looked at the issues “bothering and biting Nigerians today.”
