The federal government has appealed to labour unions to continue negotiations regarding the new minimum wage. Addressing a press conference on Monday in Abuja, Minister of Information , Mohammed Idris, said the government is committed to peaceful and mutually beneficial outcome of the issues.
The minister said recent efforts by both the National Assembly and the government to engage with the labour unions were part of government efforts aimed at resolving the issues.
He reiterated government openness to dialogue, stressing the importance of a collaborative approach.
“We will continue to engage and continue to make ourselves very available in the context of these negotiations on behalf of the Nigerian people.
“Let me make it clear that we are not opponents on this negotiating table. We are united by the fact that we want the best for the Federal Republic of Nigeria and all 200 million citizens of the country,” Idris stated.
He underscored the need for a balanced and realistic resolution, noting the significant implications of labour’s current proposal.
The labour unions proposed a new minimum wage of N494,000.
According to Idris, this would result in an annual wage bill of N9.5 trillion for the federal government alone, not accounting for additional costs to state governments and private sector employers.
