The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has endorsed the N70,000 new national minimum wage offered by President Bola Tinubu.

The decision was made during an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Friday.

According to a communique by NLC President Joe Ajaero, the NEC meeting was convened in response to the outcomes of Thursday’s meeting with the federal government at the Presidential Villa.

The communique stated that the NEC “unanimously commended and applauded” the leadership’s handling of the National Minimum Wage fixing exercise.

The NLC accepted the President’s offer of N70,000 as the new National Minimum Wage and the three-yearly tenure for its review. The communique stressed the need for “full and strict compliance” with the National Minimum Wage 2024 when it becomes an Act.

The NLC leadership acknowledged that the decision was “challenging and far from our initial demand” but was made to avert a further hike in petrol prices, which would inflict more hardship on Nigerians.

“Once again, NEC-in-session restates the commitment of the NLC to continue to stand resolutely in its mission to defend and advance the rights of Nigerian workers and Nigerian people at all times. It therefore calls on all Nigerians to unite in this cause and to hold our leaders accountable to the same standards of sacrifice and service,” it added.