The Presidency has expressed its stance on the N615,000 minimum wage demanded by organized labor, calling it unrealistic and not feasible.
This comes after the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, announced the proposed wage in discussions with the federal government.
Ajaero justified the proposed wage in an interview on Channels Television, citing an analysis of the current economic situation and the needs of an average Nigerian family of six.
However, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, refuted the feasibility of such a wage in a conversation with The Punch.
Onanuga emphasized that the Federal Government cannot afford the proposed minimum wage demanded by the labor unions.
He said, “It is an open affair. The NLC President, Ajaero, told the public today they were asking for N615,000 per month as minimum wage. So, where will the money come from? Do we have that kind of money to pay? The government cannot afford any minimum wage that it cannot pay.
“So, the President is hoping that maybe at their next meeting, everybody will come to some reasonable agreement that would reflect what the government and the private sector can pay.”