News
Presidency denies N105,000 pay as Labour awaits Tinubu’s offer
The Presidency on Thursday denied reports that the Federal Government was proposing N105,000 as the new minimum wage.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the report as false.
The report followed the presentation of the cost implications of implementing a new national minimum wage to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Thursday.
The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, submitted the template to the President alongside the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu.
Edun confirmed submitting the template to the President and reassured that ‘there is no cause for alarm’ when questioned about the figure.
Tinubu was said to be currently reviewing the proposal, and an official announcement is expected soon.
However, the development triggered speculations that the finance minister proposed N105,000 in the new minimum wage template.
Onanuga punctured the claim in a post on his X account.
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.”
Meanwhile, the meeting of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage was again adjourned till Friday (today) due to the unavailability of the cost template on the new minimum wage.
This was the second time in 24 hours that the committee session had been postponed.
On Wednesday, the Federal Government and Organised Labour adjourned the minimum wage talks till Thursday in anticipation of the template.
On Tuesday, Tinubu directed the finance minister to present the cost implications for a new minimum wage within two days.
The President gave the order at a meeting with the government negotiation team led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, at the presidential villa in Abuja.
Though the finance minister submitted the template to the President earlier on Thursday, the proposal was not presented to the Federal Government and Labour representatives, who met for over two hours and adjourned their session until today.
Senior labour movement members told The PUNCH on Thursday that the committee meeting did not record any meaningful progress because the president’s offer was not presented to the parties.
A member of the committee who is also a leader of the Nigeria Labour Congress said though the union was aware that a proposal had been submitted to the President, it was becoming jittery as its ultimatum expires on Monday.
Speaking anonymously because the committee deliberation was confidential, the labour leader stated, “We have adjourned. Nothing has been presented. We were hearing rumours that something had been given to the President.
“We are getting jittery now because we have only one week, which expires on Monday. We are getting jittery, but this country is in distress. Looking at the economic situation now, it is a problem. Let us see what they bring up tomorrow (today) by 4:00 pm.”
Following the slow pace of talks on the new minimum wage and the government’s failure to reverse the electricity tariff hike, Labour embarked on an indefinite strike on Monday, grounding economic activities nationwide.
Banks, airports, public schools and courts were shut, forcing the Federal Government to convene an emergency meeting to find a way out of the impasse.
In a bid to move the negotiation forward, the unions announced Tuesday the suspension of industrial action for five days after the President agreed to pay a national minimum wage higher than N60,000. The tripartite committee pledged its readiness to convene daily until a new minimum wage is announced.
The suspension of the strike followed a six-hour meeting between the labour leadership and the National Assembly in Abuja on Monday night.
To fast-track the negotiation, the President on Tuesday directed the finance minister to present the cost implications for a new minimum wage within two days.
Tinubu also directed the government representatives to work collectively with the organised private sector and the sub-nationals to achieve a new affordable wage award for Nigerians.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced the development at a press conference in Abuja.
Idris assured of the president’s readiness to accept the committee’s resolutions, adding, “The president is determined to go with what the committee has said, and he’s also looking at the welfare of Nigerians.’’
Furthermore, he said the President directed the government representatives to work collectively with the organised private sector and the sub-nationals to achieve a new affordable wage award for Nigerians.
In response to the President’s intervention, Labour said it had ‘relaxed’ its strike for one week to enable fruitful negotiations with the Federal Government on the minimum wage.
The NLC and TUC stated this in a communique issued on Tuesday after a joint National Executive Council meeting.
PUNCH
Honourable Paul Sunday Nnamchi, representing Enugu East/Isi Uzo Federal Constituency in the 10th House of Representatives, has fulfilled his promise to illuminate communities in Isi Uzo Local Government Area.
The lawmaker has just begun the deployment of high-density solar-powered street lights in Ikem Nkwo, marking the beginning of a massive rollout of the street lamps across the communities in Isi Uzo.
This initiative, which started in Enugu East Local Government Area in 2024, aims to support the fight against insecurity in the state which according to him was to add to what Chief Security Officer of Enugu State Barrister Peter Mba had done to secure the state to attracts foreign investments.
The lawmaker expressed concern over banditry attacks, particularly by herdsmen, in some communities within Isi Uzo and Enugu East Local Government Areas in the recent pasts.
He believes that illuminating these areas with high-density street lights would help address the insecurity adding that he was prioritizing border and farming communities in Isi Uzo, where banditry has displaced residents and restricted farming activities.
Communities in Ikem, Eha-Amufu in Isi Uzo which borders Enugu and Benue State and Ugwogo-Nike in Enugu East have been vulnerable to these attacks due to their strategic locations.
By Gloria Ikibah
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, has extended warm wishes to Nigerian workers as the country marks the 2025 edition of International Workers’ Day.
Kalu praised workers across various sectors for their commitment and resilience, describing them as the engine that keeps the nation moving. He acknowledged their sacrifices and unrelenting drive, especially during tough economic times.
In his message, he highlighted the efforts of the current administration under President Bola Tinubu to improve the welfare of public servants. He referenced the National Assembly’s prompt backing of the new minimum wage as a sign of the government’s seriousness about workers’ wellbeing.
The Deputy Speaker appealed for continued patience and understanding from Nigerians, noting that the ongoing economic reforms, while challenging, are designed to bring long-term relief and prosperity.
Kalu also called for unity, and said the country can only overcome its present difficulties if citizens and leaders work together in good faith.
He therefore urged workers to keep the faith and remain steadfast in their duties, assuring them that brighter days are on the horizon, and wished Nigerian workers a peaceful and fulfilling May Day celebration.
The Osun State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has received thousands of decampees from the All Progressives Congress and other political parties into its fold.
The decampees, who are mostly from the Omisore Youth Support Forum (OYSF) joined the party at a ceremony held at party secretariat in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, on Wednesday.
The were received by the Chairman of the PDP in Osun, Hon. Sunday Bisi, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuff and other party leader.
While receiving the decampees, Bisi renamed the group as Adeleke Youth Support Forum (AYSF) as they declared their support for Adeleke’s 2026 re-election bid.
One of the leaders of the decampees, Mr Francis Fasogbon said they were “inspired by the good governance delivered by Governor Ademola Adeleke”.
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