Following the suspension of a nationwide strike, President Bola Tinubu has given Finance Minister Wale Edun a 48-hour deadline to present a new minimum wage proposal. The fast-tracked timeline has sparked mixed reactions, with some expressing skepticism about the ability to craft a meaningful policy in such a short timeframe.
In a bold move aimed at resolving the ongoing minimum wage crisis, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed his Finance Minister, Wale Edun, to present a new wage template within the next two days.
The directive comes just days after the nationwide strike by organized labor was suspended, with both sides agreeing to return to the negotiation table. "The president has charged Minister Edun to work quickly and decisively to develop a comprehensive minimum wage proposal that will provide real relief to Nigerian workers," said Information Minister Mohammed Idris.
Idris emphasized that all relevant stakeholders, including labor unions, will be involved in the process to ensure the new wage is "acceptable, sustainable and realistic."
The fast-tracked timeline has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, with some expressing skepticism about the ability to craft a meaningful policy in such a short timeframe.
"Two days is an incredibly tight deadline," said Ayodele Okunfulure, president of the Nigeria Labor Congress. "We hope the president is serious about engaging workers and their representatives in a genuine dialogue."
As the clock ticks, Edun and his team will be under intense pressure to deliver a proposal that could have far-reaching implications for Nigeria's economic and social stability.
"This is a defining moment for the Tinubu presidency," said political analyst Amara Nwankpa. "The success or failure of this initiative could set the tone for the rest of his term."
