The Nigeria Labour Congress on Friday revealed that President Bola Tinubu actually offered to pay N250,000 minimum wage but with conditions.
The organized labour however said it turned down the offer in the interest of Nigerians.
The President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero made the disclosure on a Channels Television programme: “Politics Today.”
It would be recalled that while the NLC initially demanded N250,000 as minimum wage before Thursday’s agreement, the Federal Government offered N62,000.
However, after the meeting with President Bola Tinubu, Organised Labour and the Federal Government settled for N70,000.
Speaking on Thursday on Channels Television, Ajaero said during their two meetings with Tinubu over the new minimum wage, the President offered to pay them the N250,000 they demanded with a caveat: the price of petrol will be increased.
He said: “Accepting N70,000 was the best way to save Nigerians from further hardship.
“At last week’s meeting, the President brought a proposal: ‘I will give you guys N250,000 if you allow me to equally increase the pump price of petroleum products.’
“And we said: ‘No, we need to go and consult.’
“Today, we went there to tell him: ‘No.’
“The labour movement can make sacrifices without allowing Nigerians to suffer further on the increase in the pump price of petroleum products.”
