During the May Day celebration in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of State Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, assured Nigerian workers that the new national minimum wage would take effect from May 1, 2024, despite the ongoing negotiations of the Tripartite Committee On National Minimum Wage.

Addressing the workers, Onyejeocha acknowledged that while it is regrettable that the negotiations have not been concluded before May 1, efforts are being made to finalize the document as soon as possible through wide consultations.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have consistently urged the administration of President Bola Tinubu to expedite the upward review of wage awards.

Recently, Organised Labour demanded a new minimum wage of N615,000 to enable workers to cope with the economic realities and high cost of living in Nigeria.

The labour unions emphasized that the current minimum wage of N30,000 is insufficient to meet the needs of the average Nigerian worker, especially considering that not all governors are adhering to the current wage award, which expired in April.

The Minimum Wage Act of 2019, signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari, stipulates that the wage should be reviewed every five years to align with contemporary economic demands.

In a separate address to the workers, President Tinubu commended their contributions to the growth of the country. His remarks were presented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the event marking the 2024 Workers’ Day in Abuja.

Tinubu assured workers that the federal government is open to receiving recommendations from the committee on the new national minimum wage.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to implementing reforms aimed at advancing the progress of Nigeria.