President Bola Tinubu has made it clear he would only approve a new minimum wage that his government can afford.
Tinubu stated at a dinner to mark Nigeria’s 25 years of unbroken Democracy in Abuja.
The president thanked those who stood by him over the years, promising Nigerians that he won’t depart from the tenets of democratic governance.
“I have to celebrate with you my dear brother, Senate President, Deputy Senate President,” he said, adding that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his deputy, Jibrin Barau would soon get an Executive Bill from him on the new minimum wage.
“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,” he said.
The President also pledged to bring down the prices of food items by tackling the menace of banditry that has forced many farmers away from their farms.
He also rallied Nigerians to support his administration’s efforts to strengthen the economy and informed citizens that a bill for a new minimum wage would be sent to the National Assembly soon, among other things.
Recall that the government and the labour last Friday, failed to reach an agreement on the new minimum wage.
While labour again dropped its demand from N494,000 to N250,000, the government added N2,000 to its initial N60,000 and offered workers N62,000.
Both sides submitted their reports to the President who is expected to make a decision and send an executive bill to the National Assembly for a new minimum wage.