Organized labor in Nigeria has demanded a substantial increase in the minimum wage to N615,000 per month, citing economic hardships and a soaring cost of living.
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, announced the demand on Sunday, stating that it was formulated after consultations with the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The existing minimum wage of N30,000, established in 2019, has become inadequate to sustain the well-being of Nigerian workers, the unions lamented. They also criticized the failure of some state governors to implement the current wage award.
The Minimum Wage Act of 2019 mandates a periodic review every five years. The NLC and TUC have been urging President Bola Tinubu’s government to expedite the process.
In January, the Federal Government appointed a 37-member Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage to make recommendations. The NLC had initially proposed N1 million as the new wage, citing high inflation. The TUC suggested N447,000, while the NLC later revised its request to N794,000.
The joint proposal of N615,000 was based on an inflation rate of 31.70% as of February 2024, which has severely impacted the cost of living. The unions also highlighted the increased revenue allocations to state governors, making it feasible to pay public servants the new wage. CONTINUE READING
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