Chairman of Trade Union Congress in Benue State, Gideon Akaa, has stated that labour leaders are in negotiation with the government over the new minimum wage.

He dismissed the trending report on social media that the state government presented N40,000 as the new minimum wage.

Speaking in a telephone chat with journalists on Friday, he said that both parties are yet to agree on any amount adding that what the labour put on the table was N75,000 and N77,000.

He said, “I’m not aware of the rumour of N40,000. We held a meeting with the government and the negotiation is still ongoing. Nobody has mentioned anything about N40,000 to the best of my knowledge.

“So, where the rumour is coming from, I do not know. The government has not agreed to pay any amount, we are still negotiating. Once the negotiation is concluded, we will sign an agreement.

“As the negotiation is still ongoing, we have so many figures but we are yet to agree on something. We have N75,000, N77,000 on the negotiation table.”

PUNCH