Labour proposes  $300/N400,000 minimum wage

Labour proposes  $300/N400,000 minimum wage

The organised labour has proposed a living wage of $300/N400,000 for all workers, arguing that inflation and high cost of living has rendered the current minimum wage of N30,000 grossly inadequate.

Chairman, Trade Union Side, Joint Meeting of the National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Benjamin Anthony, presented the position of organised labour on Tuesday at the 2023 meetings of the Separate and Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council held at Goshen City, Nasarawa State.

National Vice President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Tommy Etim, also says the N200,000 minimum wage it earlier proposed to the government is no longer realistic, considering the country’s current economic situation.

He was reacting to Tuesday’s inauguration of the Minimum Wage Committee by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The proposal, presented at a recent meeting of the National Public Service Negotiating Council, comes amid ongoing negotiations for a new national minimum wage. Union representatives argued that the current wage is no longer sufficient to meet basic needs, with the high exchange rate and fuel subsidy removal significantly impacting purchasing power.

Anthony said, “As earlier stated, the time to review our Minimum Wage has come, in doing this; we must all agree that the current Minimum Wage of N30,000 has since been eroded by the high exchange rate coupled with the abrupt removal of fuel subsidy which has translated into high cost of living in the Country.

“There is no gainsaying that the cost of a bag of rice is far more than the so-called Minimum Wage, and to worsen the situation, the Government is not prompt in the payment of the collectively and freely agreed N35,000 Wage award.

“In the light of the above, labour has proposed a Living Wage of $300 for Nigerian Workers. This is due to the fall in the value of our currency. Today, if you carry N100,000 to the market, you will come back with a leather bag of items.

“We call on government to immediately pay the arrears of the N35,000 wage award along with the current and expedited action on the process of getting a new living wage to bring succour to the working class people,” he added.