A leading Nigerian trade union has rejected a recommendation that the national minimum wage be raised to N27,000 from 18,000 naira, its spokesman said on Tuesday.
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, which represents senior civil servants, said agreeing a minimum wage is a product of negotiation and that the figure of 30,000 naira had been agreed.
A body that advises the government earlier recommended the rise to 27,000 and the labour minister said a bill would be sent to parliament.
The National Council of State presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari with former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan in attendance approved N27,000 National Minimum Wage on Tuesday.
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The approval was disclosed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Ngige told State House correspondents that the bill on the new minimum wage of N27,000 would be transmitted to the National Assembly in the next 24 hours for passage into law.
According to him the N27,000 is the benchmark for all employers of labour with more than 25 workers on their payroll, emphasising that no employer of labour with more 25 workers should be paid less than the proposed N27,000.
