Organised labour unions have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to help resolve the dispute over the N30,000 new minimum wage.
The union and the federal government again failed to reach an agreement over the payment of the new minimum wage at a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.
However, both parties will resume negotiations in Abuja next week.
According to reports, the labour unions insisted on their demands while government negotiators refused to improve on their proposals.
“We maintained our earlier position and demand at the meeting. Government negotiators were not ready to move from their position also. We have (been) told to package our position and their own proposals and send to their principal (President Muhammadu Buhari) to look at the difference,” the source quoted.
The Chairman of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Richard Egbule, said labour’s demands would significantly increase the total wage bill, hence the government would not accept labour’s proposed salary adjustments.
Responding to the claim, Secretary of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, Alade Lawal, said the government “was trying to force labour to accept its proposal,” adding that such would only make workers poorer.
