The Director-General of Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin, Comr. Issa Aremu, has hailed President Bola Tinubu on his commitment to a new minimum and living wage.
In his New Year address, President Bola Tinubu had promised a new national living wage for industrious workers.
Aremu, in statement, praised the President for his commitment to wage-led growth strategy, economic recovery and poverty eradication through payment of adequate living wages in 2024.
The Director General urged states and local governments, employers of labour and organised labour to align with vision of Tinubu in ameliorating the suffering of masses.
Aremu recalled that 2024 expected tripartite wage negotiations would be the 6th of such national minimum wage review since 1981, (N125) 1990, (N250) 2000, (N5,500) 2011 (N18000) and 2018 ( N30,000) noting that it was remarkable that the President acknowledged the reality of high costs of living and inflation caused by petroleum subsidy removal.
He said the President has set the stage for robust constructive collective bargaining for new wage review in line with Nigeria’s labour laws and relevant conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) .
Aremu said the pronouncement on wage improvement further points to Tinubu’s labour- friendly disposition, referring to his presidential campaign council in which he dedicated a Directorate to labour, the only Presidential candidate to do so.
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He praised the 10th National Assembly leadership for improving on the budget of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, adding that budgetary allocations must tally with the vision of the President on combating youth unemployment and underemployment.
The DG also commended the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barr. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, for her bold sanctions against private companies and employers that disregarded occupational health and safety standards of workers in the world of work last year.
In a related development, the Director General urged the staff and management of MINILS to intensify labour education in line with the targets and deliverables set by Ministry of Labour and Productivity in ensuring the 8-point Renewed Hope agenda of Tinubu in the new year.