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Ajero says minimum wage negotiations inconclusive following new minimum wage report presented to Tinubu

As the five-day ultimatum given by organised labour to the federal government to come up with acceptable minimum wage figure nears, negotiations according to Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress remain inclusive as government officials failed to present its proposal to the tripartite committee.

Ajaero told journalists after the meeting of the tripartite committee on Thursday, that the federal government was yet to present any report, including a new proposal, adding that “ the committee is still working, so, when they finish, Nigerians will get the report”.

“They didn’t present any report or proposal to the whole house, they presented it to the committee of the house and as you can see, they are still working on it.

On whether the issues will be resolved by Friday, Ajaero said “ that is a wish to all of us, that is our prayer”.

And while expressing optimism that the government team will make the presentations today to the whole house for deliberation, also dismissed speculations that the government has offered N105,000 as minimum wage.

“Such information is not before us, either officially or unofficially. We are still at our position before now and I know that government having not presented their own position, they are still at where they were before now,” he said.

“So, until it is made public and discussed, we cannot say that they have a position.”

This position was also corroborated by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Communication and Strategy on his X handle, urging Nigerians to disregard the information as there is no truth in it.

Wale Edun, the minister of finance, and coordinating minister of the economy, had early on Thursday, presented the report which contained the cost implications of the new the new minimum wage to President Bola Tinubu

Edun who was accompanied by Atiku Bagudu, the minister of budget and national planning left the President’s office at about 12.45 pm, Thursday after submitting the report.

The Minister who declined comment on the figures, urged Nigerians to “expect a good figure”.

Recall that Organised Labour called off its indefinite nationwide strike on Tuesday and President Tinubu same day gave the Finance Minister 48 hours to come up with the cost implications of the new Minimum Wage.