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Private Sector Urges Government for Support to Meet New N70,000 Minimum Wage
Following the recent agreement between the Federal Government and organized labor on a new minimum wage of N70,000, the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN) has raised concerns about its capacity to meet this financial obligation.
The workers’ union had initially accepted the increase based on President Tinubu’s assurance of government support to facilitate the transition for private sector employers.
The OPSN is now urging the Federal Government to promptly outline the specifics of the promised support to enable businesses to plan effectively. The private sector is currently grappling with substantial production costs and other financial pressures.
Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, Director-General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), voiced these concerns on behalf of the OPSN.
While acknowledging the government’s efforts in approving the new minimum wage, he emphasized the need for additional measures to alleviate the burden on businesses.
These measures include reversing recent increases in electricity tariffs, ensuring that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) fulfills outstanding financial commitments to companies in the productive sector, imposing a moratorium on new taxes and levies for the next five years, and providing exemptions and subsidies for imported conversion kits.
Oyerinde stressed the importance of implementing reforms that will enhance the private sector’s capacity to absorb the new wage levels.
He noted that during discussions with the National Minimum Wage Committee, the OPSN had previously expressed concerns about meeting the earlier recommended minimum wage of N62,000.
This recommendation was made with the understanding that the government would take concrete steps to mitigate the existing economic challenges facing the private sector.
The NECA Director-General underscored that the ability of the private sector to comply with the new wage demands is a critical issue that needs addressing.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has reportedly declared a strike at Taraba State University over outstanding salary-related demands and delays in payments.
The strike is scheduled to begin today, October 12, 2026. According to the union’s chairman, the union had been engaging the Taraba State Government over its outstanding demands since February 2026.
“The union had exercised considerable patience and demonstrated its commitment to dialogue since February 2026, when it began engaging the Taraba State Government over the outstanding issues,” Mbave said.
“The union had earlier suspended its planned industrial action following an appeal by the government for additional time through the Office of the Head of Civil Service, in the interest of maintaining industrial harmony,” the chairman added.
The Chairman of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, Torseer Yina, has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the ancient town.
The curfew takes effect from Thursday, October 8, 2026, following unrest and violent protests in the area.
According to reports, the action was taken to contain the unrest and violent protests by members of BEMOA following the death of one of its members by unknown gunmen.
The protest, which was reportedly hijacked by hoodlums, turned violent after an angry mob burnt two vehicles belonging to the Benue State Civil Protection Guards.
The Gboko council chairman said the curfew takes effect immediately and warned that anyone caught flouting the order or breaching public peace would be decisively dealt with.
Nine people have died in a fatal road crash along the Ijebu-Ode-Benin Expressway in Ogun State.
The crash occurred on Monday at about 4:55pm around the Bethel area along the Ijebu-Ode/Ore axis of the expressway. It involved a white Toyota Hiace commercial bus belonging to Delta Line and a white Sino truck operated by Bill Gas Solution Ltd.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), all nine people involved in the crash, comprising three males and six females, died in the incident.
The FRSC said the crash occurred while it was raining and the road was wet, with preliminary investigations identifying speed violation as the probable cause.
The FRSC rescue team arrived at the scene shortly after receiving the report, while the bodies of the victims were taken to the General Hospital Morgue in Ijebu-Ode.
The Ogun State Sector Commander, Oludare Ogunjobi, urged motorists, especially commercial drivers, to obey speed limits and exercise extra caution when driving in the rain.
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