The Federal Government has commenced background consultations ahead of fresh negotiations on Nigeria’s national minimum wage, with discussions on workers’ wages and welfare already underway.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr Kamil Shoretire, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at a capacity-building workshop organised for labour correspondents.
Shoretire said the government had not yet announced a timetable for the formal commencement of negotiations, but consultations were already taking place on proposals that could shape the next wage agreement.
> “We are yet to announce the timetable for that, but background discussions are already ongoing,” he said, adding that details would be made public when formal negotiations begin.
The development comes as organised labour intensifies calls for a review of the ₦70,000 national minimum wage approved in 2024. The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (Trade Union Side) has called for the immediate constitution of a committee to negotiate a new minimum wage ahead of January 2027.
Workers under the council have proposed a ₦500,000 monthly minimum salary for the lowest grade in their proposed 2027 salary structure, while also seeking wage awards and upward reviews of salaries and allowances. The Federal Government, however, has not announced any figure for a new national minimum wage.
Shoretire also disclosed that government was holding collective-bargaining discussions with workers in critical sectors, including health and education, with efforts being made to fast-track agreements so that approved provisions can be reflected in the 2027 budget.
FG responds to NLC’s ILO complaint
The Permanent Secretary further revealed that Nigeria had responded to outstanding issues raised in a complaint filed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
According to Shoretire, the Federal Government met the September 1 deadline set by the ILO for its response to pending issues arising from the complaint.
The NLC had petitioned the ILO over alleged violations of workers’ rights under the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949, also known as Convention No. 98.
On the government’s wage award, Shoretire said the arrangement remains in place and that there had been no directive for its stoppage. He also disclosed that additional incentives for workers and other citizens would be announced in the coming weeks, although he did not give details.
The latest development signals the beginning of preparatory discussions around the next phase of Nigeria’s minimum-wage process, although the formal negotiation timetable and any proposed new wage figure remain pending.
