Minimum wage: Tinubu steps down memo at FEC, wants broader consultations with stakeholders

President Bola Tinubu has announced that he requires more time to engage in extensive consultations with stakeholders to determine a suitable and realistic national minimum wage.

During the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Tuesday, Tinubu clarified the need for additional consultations on the minimum wage issue, which the Council had tabled for discussion and deliberation.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this during a briefing with State House correspondents on Tuesday.

Idris said the memo was temporarily withdrawn from consideration because the FG decided to seek further consultations with various stakeholders, including local government areas, states, and the federal government itself, since the proposed new wage structure has implications for all these entities.

The minister said: “A lot of people have been asking me questions pertaining to whether the New Minimum Wage would come up for deliberations today at FEC, especially whether the government was going to have a position on the new wage.

“Recall that there was a report from the tripartite committee, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, the organised private sector, and government representatives; these three make up the tripartite committee that discussed the new minimum wage. They have forwarded a report to the president, which he has gone through.

“But consistent with the way it should be done, I want to inform Nigerians that the FEC deliberated on that because the new national minimum wage is not just the decision of the federal government.

“That memo was stepped down to enable Mr. President consult further so that he can have an informed position on what to do. This decision was taken because it affects the States, LG, and FG.”