The reports circulating that the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, had suggested N105,000 for the new minimum wage template have been refuted by the Presidency.
This was revealed on Thursday on his X account by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Advisor on Information and Strategy.
The presidential aide wrote, “The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, has not proposed N105,000 minimum wage.
“The contrary story being disseminated is false.”
Edun had earlier in the day presented the template to President Bola Tinubu, meeting the 48-hour deadline for the projected cost implications of implementing a new national minimum wage to Tinubu.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, along with the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, presented President Tinubu with the cost implications of the new minimum wage in his office at the presidential villa in Abuja.
According to Western Post, a new proposal suggests a minimum wage of N105,000 (approximately $71) per month for Nigerian workers.
Tinubu is said to be currently reviewing this proposal, and an official announcement is expected soon.
This development follows a recent strike by labour unions, which began on Monday after their meeting with the National Assembly leadership failed to produce a satisfactory outcome.
The strike disrupted economic activities nationwide, leading to the closure of international airports, schools, courts, banks, and hospitals.
Members of the organised labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, on Tuesday, suspended their strike for five days.
REPORTERS AT LARGE earlier reported the House of Representatives member representing Ibadan North-West/Ibadan South-West, federal constituency of Oyo state, Hon. Adedeji Dhikrullahi Olajide, calling for an urgent, upward review of the minimum wage in Nigeria.
He stated that the monthly minimum wage is grossly inadequate for the average Nigerian worker.
Speaking during the Plenary in Abuja on Wednesday, Hon. Olajide lamented that an average Nigerian worker cannot afford to buy a bag of rice, let alone meet their basic needs, with their current take home.
