Presidency Dismisses N105,000 Minimum Wage

The Presidency has dismissed reports that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun proposed a N105,000 minimum wage.

In a statement on Thursday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described such a report as false.

He said, “The Honorable Minister of Finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Wale Edun has not proposed N105,000 minimum wage. The contrary story being disseminated is false.”

Osun Defender recalls that Edun had submitted the projected cost implications of implementing a new national minimum wage to President Bola Tinubu.

Osun Defender reports that Wale Edun submitted the cost proposal to the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, following a 48-hour ultimatum issued to him on Tuesday.

Edun who was accompanied by Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and National Planning left the President’s office at about 12.45 pm, after submitting the report.

The Ministers who however declined comments on the figures said ” No cause for alarm”

Pressed further, Edun simply urged Nigerians to ”expect a good figure”

It was learnt that the team moved from the Presidential Villa to the venue of the Tripartite Committee meeting on Minimum Wage, where they are expected to unveil the new figure.

Recall that organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress had embarked on a nationwide strike on Monday to demand an increased minimum wage for workers and the reversal of the recently increased electricity tariffs.

However, the labour union leadership suspended the strike on Tuesday for five days after signing a commitment with the federal government to resume negotiations and come up with a new minimum wage within a week.