After hours of deliberations, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has stepped down the memo on the new minimum wage.

The federal government had proposed a new minimum wage of N62,000 while labour leaders are insisting on N250,000 for workers.

The government had convened a FEC meeting today to address the long-standing minimum wage dispute between the federal government and organized labour.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said 39 items were on the agenda and all were taken.

On the minimum wage, he said there was a report by the tripartite committee which comprises of local government, states, NLC/ TUC and the federal government.

The minister said the tripartite committee submitted its report and there was a memo to that effect.

Idris revealed that FEC could not take a decision on it “because it involves Local Government, states, FG, Organized Private Sector and Labour unions”.

The minister revealed that the memo on the new minimum wage was stepped down so that President Bola Tinubu could consult widely before sending an executive bill to the legislature.