Workers in Nigeria under the umbrella body of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have indicated that it will soon commence negotiations with the federal government for a new national minimum wage, stressing that the present N70,000 minimum salary is no longer enough.
This is as the Network of Abuja Left Groups also urged Nigerians to support the Organised Labour’s call for a new minimum wage of not less than N500,000, warning that failure on the part of the federal government to reach an agreement could worsen hardship across the country, reports The Guardian.
The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, warned over the weekend at the Rights of Workers Summit in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, that workers should be prepared for new discussions.
Speaking with the Deputy President of the union, Audu Amba, Ajaero noted that the current minimum wage is no longer adequate to meet the demands of workers in the face of rising inflation and the increasing cost of living.
“Nothing below N500,000 can take care of workers,” he remarked.
“The current minimum wage is due for review and we will be starting negotiations with the government shortly”.
Also addressing, the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, represented by the Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, said that the worsening economic conditions had diminished the purchasing power of workers.
The present wage is not enough due to the rising expenses of food, transit fees, rent and inflation, he said. Osifo called on firms to obey labour regulations by paying decent wages and providing greater welfare for workers.
For his part, Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State promised to support the labour’s demand for greater salaries, noting that Nigerian workers deserve better welfare.
He added: “We have to work together to improve the welfare of workers. “As a member of the Governors’ Forum, I will support efforts to secure better remuneration for them,” added the governor.
In a statement by six civil society and socialist organisations, the group stated the minimum wage dispute should not be perceived as an issue that solely affects public personnel, but as a wider struggle for economic survival and dignity.
It called on inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nigerians throughout the country to brace up to support labour as the August 11 deadline approaches.
The statement, signed by Omole Ibukun of the Creative Change Centre and Akande Daniel of Anti-Imperialist Nigeria, among others, said higher wages would benefit the wider economy by increasing workers’ purchasing power and boosting patronage of farmers, traders, transport operators, artisans, landlords and small businesses. The organization also noted that the rising prices of basic goods and services such as food, transportation, energy, cooking gas, rent, drugs and school fees had greatly diminished the purchasing power of Nigerian workers.
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