*I Will Approve What Nigeria Can Afford, Says Tinubu

* ‘Don’t Send New Wage To NASS Without Consulting Us’

*We’ll Demand Minimum Wage Arrears, Labour Tells Govt

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has warned of possible job losses if the Labour insists on having its way in the new minimum wage negotiation, even as he said he would approve only what government can afford. 

Tinubu had stated in his nationwide address to mark Democracy Day on June 12 that he would soon send an Executive Bill to the Senate for enactment of a new minimum wage.

      But he added: “The minimum wage is going to be what Nigerians can afford, what you can afford and what I can afford. Cut your coat according to your size, if you have size at all.”

      This was re-echoed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Mohammed Idris, who warned the organised labour against negotiating a new minimum wage that would lead to mass retrenchment of workers or endanger the welfare of about 200 million Nigerians.

Speaking at the opening of the 2024 Synod of the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday, June 12, Idris said the N250,000 minimum wage being demanded by Labour could undermine the economy, stressing the need for a realistic wage system that safeguards against mass retrenchment, while also addressing workers’ needs.

While cautioning against demands that could disrupt the economy, the minister said: “As I have repeatedly said, the Federal Government is not opposed to the increase of wages for Nigerian workers, but we keep on advocating for a realistic and sustainable wage system for the workers, a wage system that will not undermine the economy, lead to mass retrenchment of workers and jeopardise the welfare of about 200 million Nigerians.

“We want the labour unions to understand that the relief that Nigerians are expecting, and that they fully deserve, will not come only in the form of an increase in wages; it will also come as an effort to reduce the cost of living and to ensure that more money stays in the pockets of Nigerians.

“And this is where programmes like the Presidential CNG initiative come in. That program alone, by replacing or complementing petrol usage with CNG, will cut transportation costs by as much as 50 per cent.”

Meanwhile, the Labour has urged the President not to submit any figure as the new minimum wage to the National Assembly without consulting it, saying workers would demand payment of minimum wage arrears, no matter how long it takes to sign the new minimum wage into law.

The President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero and his Trade Union Congress (TUC)counterpart, Festus Osifo, stated this on Thursday, June 13 on the sideline of the ongoing International Labour Conference at the Palais du Nation in Geneva, Switzerland.

Ajaero said he expects Tinubu to invite tripartite bodies for a meeting where the ability to pay would be discussed before arriving at a final figure, noting: “We do not expect the President to present a final figure to the National Assembly without consulting with organised labour, employers and state governors.

“Everyone will still come together to discuss before transmission to the National Assembly.”

While Labour is demanding N250,000 as the new minimum wage, the federal government and Organised Private Sector (OPS) is proposing between N60,000 and N62,000.

The current minimum wage of N30,000 elapsed on May 31.