Acceptance of N70,000 minimum wage act of solidarity – NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress on Friday night said its acceptance of the N70,000 minimum wage proposed by President Bola Tinubu was an act of solidarity.

The Congress made this known in a statement which was released at the end of the National Executive Council meeting.

The statement which was signed by the national president of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, said the NLC would continue to defend the rights of Nigerian workers at all time.

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday approved the sum of N70,000 as national minimum wage, his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga said.

Tinubu was said to have announced the new wage during a meeting with the leadership of the Organized Labour in Abuja.

Thursday’s meeting came a week after the first meeting the President had with the Labour leaders last week.

The new minimum wage when approved by the National Assembly will replace the N30,000 minimum wage which expired on April 18, 2024.

The statement by Ajaero reads, “NEC-in-session concluded that this decision, though challenging and far from our initial demand, was made in the spirit of solidarity and sacrifice for Nigerian masses to avert a threatened further hike in the price of petrol which would inflict more hardship on the already suffering masses.

“Once again, NEC-in-session restates the commitment of the NLC to continue to stand resolutely in its mission to defend and advance the rights of Nigerian workers and Nigerian people at all times.

“It therefore calls on all Nigerians to unite in this cause and to hold our leaders accountable to the same standards of sacrifice and service.”