The Organized Labour has firmly rejected the idea of a N100,000 minimum wage proposed by the government. They have called on the government to take wage negotiations seriously, emphasizing that their demand for N615,000 as the new minimum wage was based on the lowest possible calculations.
Previously, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) withdrew from negotiations when the government offered N48,000 as the new minimum wage.
Alhaji Bukar Goni, Chairman of the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage, has invited the labour unions for a meeting, expressing the government’s willingness to reconsider its stance.
Benson Upah, NLC Head of Information and Public Affairs, stated that the labour unions would attend the meeting but warned the government to approach the issue with seriousness.
He argued that N100,000 is insufficient, explaining that their N615,000 demand was carefully calculated. For example, they allocated N40,000 for accommodation and N500 for daily food expenses, which are minimal and barely sufficient for a family of six. Moreover, since the government increased the electricity tariff by 250%, the cost of living has risen significantly.
Professor Theophilus Ndubuaku, an NLC delegate on the Tripartite Committee, also rejected the N100,000 figure, asserting that it is inadequate to support a worker with a family.
He pointed out that even artisans in the private sector earn more than N100,000 monthly. Ndubuaku stressed that any acceptable wage must be based on the government’s income and expenditure, highlighting that workers are currently suffering.
Ndubuaku emphasized the need for the government to demonstrate efforts to create wealth and reduce governance costs. He criticized the government for wasteful spending, such as plans for a coastal highway and importing expensive vehicles for customs, while neglecting essential areas like agriculture, power, and food security.
He insisted that the government should break down the proposed wage figures and provide justification for their affordability. If the government can prove that it cannot pay N615,000, the labour unions are willing to negotiate, but they demand transparency and accountability in government spending.
Ndubuaku concluded that the labour unions are open to realistic discussions based on facts and statistics, emphasizing that their own figures were carefully calculated and realistic.
