President Bola Tinubu will hold fresh discussions with organised labour over workers’ demands as the Federal Government seeks to prevent a possible strike and resolve outstanding disagreements over wages and other employment-related issues.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, gave the assurance during a media engagement in Abuja, where he said the President remained committed to dialogue with labour unions and finding solutions that would serve the interests of Nigerians.
Idris said the government was prepared to keep engaging labour representatives rather than allow disagreements to disrupt economic activities.
He expressed confidence that both sides could reach an understanding through sustained negotiations.
The minister recalled the discussions that preceded the approval of the N70,000 national minimum wage and said the negotiations had also addressed the period for reviewing workers’ wages.
According to him, Tinubu had questioned the existing five-year interval for wage reviews and proposed a shorter period to enable the government and labour unions to respond more quickly to changing economic conditions.
“I recall that when we were going back and forth on the N70,000 minimum wage, one of the things labour wanted was a review of the period for wage negotiations,” Idris said.
He explained that the President had raised concerns about the length of time workers were expected to wait before another review could take place.
“The President said, ‘As we keep going, why do we even have to wait for five years before we review this?’ And it came up that we could actually review it in three years,” he said.
The minister maintained that the administration would honour its commitment to dialogue and continue working with labour leaders to resolve areas of disagreement.
“The President is going to keep to his promise. We will always bring them together and find solutions in the collective interest of our country,” he said.
The assurance comes amid concerns over workers’ welfare and the pressure that rising living costs continue to place on households.
Labour unions have repeatedly called for measures to protect workers’ purchasing power as Nigerians contend with the cost of food, transportation, electricity and other essential services.
Although the minister expressed confidence in further engagement, he did not provide a specific date for the proposed talks or announce any fresh agreement with organised labour.
FG Defends Temporary Petrol Discount
Beyond the labour dispute, Idris defended the Federal Government’s 30-day petrol discount initiative, insisting that the measure should not be interpreted as a return to fuel subsidy.
He said the intervention was designed to provide temporary relief to consumers affected by rising petrol prices, while maintaining that the administration remained committed to its economic reform programme.
The minister also rejected claims that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) had been excluded from discussions leading to the initiative.
“It is wrong to say that NNPCL was not involved. NNPCL was fully involved,” he said.
Idris stated that senior officials of the national oil company and the petroleum ministry participated in the discussions before the initiative was announced.
He explained that the proposal followed deliberations on the effect of rising international oil prices on domestic fuel costs and the need to reduce the burden on consumers.
According to the minister, the NNPCL considered giving up part of its profit to make petrol more affordable for Nigerians during the period covered by the initiative.
“The idea is that NNPCL has looked at this and said, ‘We are making this much profit. Why can’t we forgo some of that profit so that Nigerians can benefit?’” Idris said.
He described the company as a commercially operated entity with responsibilities that include supporting the country’s energy security.
He argued that the temporary discount fell within its operational responsibilities and was intended to cushion the impact of elevated petrol prices.
The minister maintained that the arrangement did not amount to a reversal of the fuel subsidy removal announced by Tinubu in May 2023.
He said the government would continue with its reforms while considering temporary interventions where necessary to ease economic pressure on citizens.
Idris also responded to complaints about difficulties some consumers reportedly encountered while trying to access the discount through digital platforms and payment applications.
“I’m just getting this information from you for the first time, about some of these apps working or not working. Certainly, I will draw the attention of the NNPCL to them,” he said.
He promised to draw the attention of the relevant authorities to the reported problems so that technical challenges would not prevent eligible consumers from benefiting from the initiative.
Economic Growth
Idris also defended the administration’s economic policies, arguing that figures presented by the government pointed to gradual growth despite the hardship experienced by many Nigerians.
Citing figures he attributed to a World Bank report, the minister said the Nigerian economy grew by 4.2 per cent in the first half of 2026, compared with 3.9 per cent during the corresponding period in 2025 and 3.5 per cent in 2024.
He acknowledged, however, that the reported growth had not eliminated the difficulties facing households and businesses.
“Does that mean the challenges are now over? Of course not. But we are seeing a steady movement from one point to another,” he said.
The minister argued that the government’s reforms were intended to address longstanding structural problems and create conditions for sustained economic growth.
He admitted that the adjustment process had been difficult but maintained that the administration would continue implementing policies it believes could strengthen the economy over time.
Idris urged Nigerians to consider the administration’s long-term economic objectives alongside the difficulties associated with the reform process.
Presidency Defends Infrastructure and Security Programmes
The minister further rejected suggestions that the administration’s infrastructure programme was primarily motivated by the 2027 general elections.
He said ongoing road projects were intended to improve transportation, connect cities, facilitate trade and create economic opportunities beyond the current administration.
“These roads are not being fixed for elections. We are fixing them so that Nigerians can have access, connect cities and create economic corridors for businesses to thrive,” he said.
Idris maintained that infrastructure development required sustained investment and difficult decisions, adding that the government wanted to build assets that would benefit Nigerians in the long term.
He also addressed the country’s security challenges, saying the administration remained committed to improving the capacity of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
According to him, the government was working to strengthen security operations through better equipment, intelligence, logistics and improved support for personnel.
He acknowledged that terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities continued to pose challenges in parts of the country.
However, he said the government would sustain its efforts to protect lives and property while improving the welfare and operational capacity of security personnel.
