By Charles Igwe
The Federal Government has instituted a 37-member tripartite committee tasked with proposing a new national minimum wage for Nigeria. Vice President Kashim Shettima led the committee’s inauguration, comprising representatives from federal and state governments, the private sector, and organized labor.
Shettima emphasized the importance of collective bargaining in good faith, stressing contract adherence and encouraging consultations beyond the committee. He urged swift resolution and timely submission of reports by committee members.
Heading the committee’s leadership is Bukar Aji, the former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. As per the country’s labor law, the minimum wage undergoes review every five years. Former President Muhammadu Buhari had signed the Minimum Wage Act in 2019, setting the minimum wage at N30,000 for both federal and state workers. However, several states are yet to fulfill their wage commitments.
In response to President Bola Tinubu’s removal of the fuel subsidy on May 29, 2023, the government implemented a temporary additional N35,000 wage subsidy for six months, commencing on September 1, 2023, aiming to mitigate the impact of the subsidy removal on citizens.