There are strong indications that the ongoing minimum wage talks by Organised Labour, the Federal Government, 36 states, and 774 Local Governments may end up with a ₦70,000 compromise deal.
According to a THISDAY report, an executive bill from President Bola Tinubu would still be sent to the National Assembly any moment next week, as the tripartite committee recommended ₦62,000 minimum wage.
However, as it did in 2019, the NASS might approve more than what was sent to it by the president.
A member of the tripartite committee, who spoke to THISDAY on condition of anonymity, said Tinubu has concluded plans to send the compromise minimum wage of ₦62,0000, but the National Assembly might likely jack it up to ₦70,000 as their own input.
“This was exactly the situation that played out in 2018 and 2019. The federal government sent a minimum wage bill recommending a minimum wage of ₦23,000, but the National Assembly increased it to ₦30,000,” the source explained.
“This scenario will play out when the National Assembly gets the minimum wage bill any moment from now. The role to be played by the National Assembly is one of, ‘we feel your pains and therefore considering the economic realities, we are increasing the minimum wage to ₦70,000’.
“Though some states will still insist that they cannot pay, the federal government will persuade the states to pay and where necessary give the states a bailout that will encourage them commence payment, in the first instance.”
The report revealed that the Federal Government’s negotiating team and leaders of the National Assembly were forced to adopt this position since the Godwin Obaseki-led Edo State had already started paying the ₦70,000 minimum wage.
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