Labour Demands N250,000 Minimum Wage, Criticizes Government’s Offer
The nation is on edge as workers await President Bola Tinubu’s decision on a new national minimum wage. The Tripartite Committee on the New Minimum Wage, tasked with reviewing Nigeria’s minimum wage, is set to submit its final report to the President. This report proposes a new minimum wage of N62,000, a figure that has sparked significant resistance from labor leaders who are insisting on a minimum wage of N250,000.
There are strong indications that the country could face another round of industrial unrest if President Tinubu endorses the committee’s recommendation of N62,000. This proposal has been vehemently opposed by the labor force.
Last Friday, representatives from labor and the Tripartite Committee, which includes stakeholders from the Federal Government, state governments, and the private sector, concluded their discussions on the new minimum wage. While the committee put forward N62,000, labor leaders remained firm on their demand for N250,000.
Mr. Benson Upah, spokesperson for the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), expressed dissatisfaction with the Federal Government’s approach. He highlighted the inadequacy of the proposed N62,000 minimum wage, emphasizing that it falls far below what is needed for a decent standard of living for workers. In a phone conversation with Daily Sun, Upah stated, “The proposed N62,000 is far too low. No deal. The government is not serious yet.”
Similarly, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has expressed strong support for the proposed N250,000 minimum wage. They argue that this amount is necessary to meet the current socio-economic challenges. Mr. Tommy Okon, the TUC’s first deputy president, reiterated the labor center’s unwavering stance on the N250,000 minimum wage, aligning it with President Tinubu’s commitment to providing a living wage for workers following the removal of the fuel subsidy.
Okon emphasized that the proposed amount is justified given various socio-economic factors such as housing, transportation, healthcare, education, and tariffs, as outlined in the cost of living index. He expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s sensitivity to the workers’ plight and urged him to consider the labor proposal in light of current realities.
“Our position is clear on the minimum of N250,000. We have presented our case to Mr. President through the committee,” said Okon. “It is now up to Mr. President to decide. We stand by the N250,000 national minimum wage.”
He continued, “We have provided the government with variable facts that demonstrate N250,000 could be manageable as a living wage. The proposed N62,000 cannot meet the present socioeconomic challenges. We are helping the government by proposing a justifiable wage based on current living costs. We believe Mr. President, being sensitive to democratic values, will see that our proposal is reasonable and in line with the present reality.”
On May 3, labor unions embarked on an indefinite nationwide strike, protesting the government and the private sector’s refusal to raise the new minimum wage above N60,000 and their failure to reverse the recent electricity tariff increase. The strike was called off the next day after President Tinubu promised to consider a wage increase exceeding N60,000, leading to the government’s subsequent addition of N2,000.
However, state governors have cautioned that the proposed N60,000 minimum wage is not feasible for implementation, further complicating the situation.