The House of Representatives has sounded the alarm over the inadequacy of the minimum wage for workers in the country, asserting that a monthly salary below N100,000 is insufficient for any worker to maintain a decent standard of living.
On Wednesday, Rep. Aliyu Madaki of NNPP-Kano State emphasized that the escalating inflation rates in Nigeria have made essential commodities such as food, water, shelter, education, healthcare, transportation, and clothing unaffordable for the average Nigerian.
Madaki cited Nigeria’s participation in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, particularly highlighting Article 23, which guarantees every employed person a fair and favorable wage to ensure dignity for themselves and their families.
He recalled the government’s palliative measures following the removal of fuel subsidy in May 2023 but noted that the impact of these measures has been overshadowed by the continuous rise in the cost of goods and services.
Madaki also referenced a report by Trade Economics in 2018, which stated that the living wage for an individual Nigerian was N43,200 per month, and for a Nigerian family, it was N137,600 per month. However, he emphasized that presently, no laborer can sustain themselves in Nigeria with a wage of less than N100,000.00.
Since the removal of fuel subsidy, workers have grappled with escalating prices of goods and services, leading to inflation and a higher cost of living that erodes the purchasing power of their monthly wages.
In June 2023, workers and labor leaders demanded an increase in the minimum wage from N30,000 to N250,000, highlighting the need for a salary review due to the current economic conditions. This amount was later adjusted to N200,000 monthly.
Meanwhile, the federal government has inaugurated a 37-member tripartite committee on the national minimum wage. Chaired by Bukar Goni Aji, the former head of service of the federation, the committee includes representatives from the federal and state governments, private sector, and organized labor, tasked with recommending a new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
