Nigeria's Tinubu engages labour unions over minimum wage demands

President Bola Tinubu is engaging in ongoing negotiations with organized labour to address demands regarding the national minimum wage and rising living costs. Information Minister Mohammed Idris stated that the President remains committed to dialogue to resolve disputes and prevent potential strikes.

Discussions involve the tension between wage increases and fuel costs. Nigeria Labour Congress President Joe Ajaero revealed that during 2024 negotiations, Tinubu had offered a ₦250,000 minimum wage on the condition that labour accept a petrol price increase to approximately ₦1,500 per litre. This follows the July 2024 implementation of a ₦70,000 minimum wage, which was a 133 per cent increase from the previous ₦30,000 rate.

To make wage adjustments more responsive to economic shifts, the President has proposed reducing the statutory review cycle for wage agreements from five years to three years.