The Federal Government has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to reconsider their planned indefinite strike and return to negotiations.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said that meeting the labour unions’ demand for a N494,000 minimum wage would cost N9.5 trillion, which the economy cannot sustain.

Addressing the press in Abuja, Idris emphasized that both the Federal Government and the Organized Private Sector have agreed on a N60,000 minimum wage, a 100% increase from the 2019 wage, while labour has rejected this proposal.

He urged the unions to engage in realistic dialogue, warning that an indefinite strike would exacerbate the situation.

Idris explained that the proposed N494,000 wage represents a 1,547% increase, stressing the financial strain it would place on the government. He underscored the government’s commitment to the welfare of 200 million Nigerians and the importance of affordability and sustainability in wage decisions.

The government has already implemented various palliatives, including a N35,000 wage award for federal workers, conditional grants, and support for MSMEs, among others.

Idris called for a collaborative approach to resolve the wage dispute for the nation’s benefit.