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Minimum wage: Consider economic realities, tripartite committee tells labour
The tripartite committee established by the federal government to review the minimum wage has urged labour unions to reassess their wage demands.
Speaking with NAN on Sunday, Bukar Aji, the committee’s chairman, asked labour to reconsider their position based on economic factors and the non-monetary incentives provided by the government.
Aji highlighted several incentives of the government, including the N35,000 wage award for all treasury-paid federal workers, N100 billion for gas-fuelled buses and gas kit conversions, a N125 billion conditional grant, financial inclusion for small and medium enterprises, and a N25,000 monthly stipend for 15 million households over three months.
He also listed the N185 billion in palliative loans to states to mitigate the effects of petrol subsidy removal, N200 billion to boost agricultural production, N75 billion to strengthen the manufacturing sector, and N1 trillion for student loans, among other interventions.
Aji called on the labour unions to consider accepting the N62,000 minimum wage offered by the federal government.
He said the committee is trying to avert a situation where the minimum wage would lead to further job losses, especially as many businesses are already struggling.
