The Presidency has refuted circulating reports that Finance and Economy Minister Wale Edun has proposed a new minimum wage of N105,000.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, debunked the claims on Thursday through a post on his X account.
“The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, has not proposed N105,000 minimum wage. The contrary story being disseminated is false,” Onanuga stated.
Earlier, Edun presented a new wage template to President Bola Tinubu, meeting a 48-hour deadline. Reports had suggested that Edun and Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, submitted the cost implications of a new national minimum wage to the President at the presidential villa in Abuja.
According to the Western Post, the proposal includes a minimum wage of N105,000 (approximately $71) per month for Nigerian workers. President Tinubu is currently reviewing this proposal, with an official announcement anticipated soon.
This development comes in the wake of a recent strike by labour unions, which commenced on Monday after their discussions with the National Assembly leadership failed to yield satisfactory results. The strike, which disrupted economic activities nationwide, led to the closure of international airports, schools, courts, banks, and hospitals.
The Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress suspended their strike on Tuesday for five days.