June 13, (THEWILL) – President Bola Tinubu has declared that only a sustainable wage that Nigeria can afford will be approved as the national minimum wage for workers.
The President disclosed this on Wednesday night in Abuja while addressing his guests at the dinner to mark the 25 years of unbroken democracy in Nigeria.
Earlier in his Democracy Day speech, President Tinubu had assured organised labour that an executive bill on the new national minimum wage for workers would soon be sent to the National Assembly for passage.
“In this spirit, we have negotiated in good faith and with open arms with organised labour on a new national minimum wage. We shall soon send an executive bill to the National Assembly to enshrine what has been agreed upon as part of our law for the next five years or less,” the President said.
Although THEWILL recalls the lack of consensus between organised labour and the Federal Government team on the actual minimum wage. While the Federal Government and OPS offered N62,000, labour demanded N250,000.
Responding to the President’s speech, organised labour, on Wednesday, declared that it has not reached any agreement with the Federal Government on a national minimum wage
While rejecting a N62,000 “starvation minimum wage”, labour insisted that its N250,000 proposed wage remains sacrosanct.
In what seemed to be a presidential response on Wednesday night, President Tinubu said, “The minimum wage is going to be what Nigerians can afford, what you can afford and what I can afford.”
Addressing perhaps the demands of organised labour on the need to cut costs, the President said, “They ask you to cut your coat according to your size, if you have size at all.
“If you get a notice from me that I have changed my mind on minimum wage, the minimum wage is going to be what Nigerians can afford, what you can afford and what I can afford.”
Speaking about his slip at the parade ground earlier at the Democracy Day Parade in Eagles Square, Abuja, the President said, ”Democracy is worth falling for.
“Early this morning, I had a swagger and it’s on social media. They were confused about whether I was doing Buga or Babariga. But it is a day to celebrate democracy while doing dobale (prostrating) for the day.
“I am traditionally a Yoruba boy, I did my dobale (Prostrating). Democracy is a day that is worthy of falling for. It is a joy to see all of you here.
“I have heard excellent comments and very touching remarks about myself and the past. Thank you. I promise you all, it won’t fall.”
Commenting on the newly reintroduced old National Anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”, the President noted the criticisms about the National Anthem, adding: “If you cannot change the name Nigeria, are you the creator of Nigeria’s name?
“Nigeria is blessed. Our complexity, yes, our diversity, unending, but it’s the best road to success.”
President Tinubu also assured of bringing down food inflation but noted that bandits have made it difficult for farmers to produce food.
“The promise I can make is to struggle to bring the food price down but those bandits must leave the farmers alone and bring Nigeria back to its glory of production and harvesting,” he said.
The President assured that his administration will make Nigeria tremendously successful if he gets the necessary support from Nigerians.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
