The labor union has suggested a minimum wage of $300 (equivalent to N436,500) for Nigerian workers ahead of upcoming negotiations on the new national minimum wage.
The proposal was put forth by the Chairman of the Trade Union Side, Joint Meeting of the National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Comrade Benjamin Anthony, during the 2023 meetings of the Separate and Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council held in Goshen City, Nasarawa State, on Tuesday.
The union argued that the current minimum wage of N30,000 has been significantly eroded due to the high exchange rate and the sudden removal of fuel subsidy, resulting in a high cost of living in the country.
Hence, the demand for a new wage. Anthony, represented by the Union’s Secretary, Comrade Boma Mohammed, also expressed concern over recent delays in salary payments by the Federal Government to workers, emphasizing the need to prevent such occurrences to alleviate the prevailing hardships.
He stated, “Considering the above, Labor has proposed a Living Wage of $300 (N436,500) for Nigerian Workers. This is due to the depreciation of our currency; today, if you take N100,000 to the market, you will return with just a handful of items.” He further urged the Government to promptly settle the arrears of the N35,000 wage award and expedite actions towards establishing a new living wage to provide relief to the working class.
Meanwhile, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, highlighted that most governors on the 37-member Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage are not adhering to the proposed base pay structure. Ajaero made this assertion during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday.
Vice President Kashim Shettima had earlier inaugurated the committee in Abuja, emphasizing the need to ensure a decent living wage in compliance with the existing National Minimum Wage Act of 2019, which is set to expire soon.
Ajaero criticized the composition of the committee, stating that governors who are not compliant with minimum wage regulations are overrepresented, while those who adhere to the regulations are not adequately represented. He expressed concerns over the implications of this situation.
