This appeal was made on Monday by the Minister of Labour and Employment during the inaugural Policy Dialogue on the Legislative Agenda of the 10th House of Representatives, held in Abuja. The event was organized by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), with support from UK Aid and the National Assembly Library Trust Fund (NALTF).

In his address, the Minister identified three priority bills awaiting legislative action: the Labour Standards Bill, the Collective Labour Relations Bill, and the Occupational Safety and Health Bill. He noted that these legislative reforms, once enacted, would enhance workplace standards, attract greater investment, boost productivity, and promote social justice.

“I appeal to the House of Representatives to give urgent attention to these bills,” he said. “They are vital to repositioning our labour administration and ensuring Nigeria remains competitive in a global economy.”

Executive Director of PLAC, Barr. Clement Nwankwo, highlighted the significance of the dialogue as a platform for evaluating the National Assembly’s progress and setting the tone for impactful governance. He described the House’s eight-point Legislative Agenda as a binding pact with Nigerians and a roadmap to national stability and growth.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, also addressed participants, affirming the 10th Assembly’s commitment to inclusive governance, accountability, and transparency. He emphasized that the House had embarked on the most ambitious legislative agenda in Nigeria’s history, aligning its priorities with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.

“When this House was inaugurated in June 2023, Nigeria was facing economic difficulties, security concerns, and a widespread sense of disillusionment. We knew we had to act with urgency and boldness,” the Speaker said.

He acknowledged the challenges brought on by fuel subsidy removal and pledged that the legislature would continue to respond with adaptive and people-focused reforms. According to him, over the past two years, the House has enacted transformative laws, including those on student loans, data protection, public health, tax modernization, and national security.

Notably, the Speaker cited efforts to enhance transparency through rigorous oversight, which have led to the recovery of public funds and improved government accountability.

“The 10th House has introduced a record number of legislative proposals, with a clear focus on reform and impact,” he noted. “We have taken steps to modernize critical sectors, strengthen institutions, and advance regional development.”

As the House approaches its midterm mark, the Speaker reaffirmed the legislature’s dedication to citizen engagement, openness, and measurable governance outcomes.

The dialogue also served as a prelude to the upcoming Open NASS Week — a platform where the National Assembly will publicly review its performance and reaffirm its commitment to democratic accountability.

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Idris stated that the agreement was reached during a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Thursday in Abuja.

“We are happy to announce today (Thursday) that both the Organised Labour and the Federal Government have agreed on an increase from the ₦62,000 minimum wage. The new national minimum that Mr. President is expected to submit to the National Assembly is ₦70,000,”

NLC President Joe Ajaero, TUC boss Festus Osifo, Labour Minister Nkiruka Onyejeocha, and other officials from both sides were present at the announcement.

Wage To Be Reviewed Every Three Years

NLC President Joe Ajaero confirmed that ₦70,000 was the current agreement on the minimum wage. He added that part of the discussion included a provision that the minimum wage would be reviewed every three years instead of every five years.

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“We were here last week, and we are here now. What they have announced in terms of the amount of ₦70,000 happens to be where we are now. But the thing about it is that we will not wait for another five years to come and agree,” Ajaero said.

Labour Minister Nkiruka Onyejeocha added that President Tinubu had directed the Ministers of Finance and Budget, Wale Edun and Atiku Bagudu, to work out modalities to address issues with the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU).

Agreement Follows Series of Talks

The agreement between the two sides followed a series of talks between labour leaders and the President over the past few weeks. These discussions came after months of failed negotiations between labour organs and a tripartite committee on the minimum wage constituted by the President in January.

The committee, which included representatives from state and federal governments and the Organised Private Sector, had proposed ₦62,000, while labour insisted on ₦250,000 as the new minimum wage for workers, who currently earn ₦30,000.

Labour had argued that ₦30,000 was unsustainable given the economic challenges of inflation and the high cost of living, exacerbated by the removal of the petrol subsidy by the President.

Last Thursday, President Tinubu met with labour leaders and called for realistic expectations regarding the minimum wage. “You have to cut your coat according to available cloth. Before we can finalise the minimum wage process, we have to look at the structure,” Tinubu said.

In his Democracy Day speech on June 12, 2024, the President mentioned that an executive bill on the new national minimum wage for workers would soon be sent to the National Assembly for passage.

The information minister confirmed on Thursday that the ₦70,000 agreed amount would be communicated to the National Assembly.

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