Labour Proposes Fresh N615,000 Minimum Wage Demand

Labour Proposes Fresh N615,000 Minimum Wage Demand

By Gambo Jagindi
May 19, 2024

The Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress have demanded N615,000 as the new minimum wage for workers in the country. The demand was reached after consultations by the NLC and TUC.

President Bola Tinubu, through Vice President Kashim Shettima, had set up a 37-member panel to recommend a new national minimum wage. The panel is yet to submit its report.

The current N30,000 minimum wage expired at the end of March 2024. The labour unions are pushing for a new minimum wage to be implemented as soon as possible.

Economists have differing views on the proposed minimum wage. Some argue that it is too high and may not be sustainable, while others believe it is necessary to address poverty and inflation.

The implementation of the new minimum wage will involve both the federal and state governments, as well as the private sector. The labour unions are pushing for a uniform minimum wage across the country.

The Federal Government has rejected the Nigeria Labour Congress’ (NLC) demand for a minimum wage of N615,000, deeming it unreasonable. However, NLC President Joe Ajaero defended the proposed amount, explaining that it was carefully calculated based on the current economic situation and the needs of an average Nigerian family of six.

Ajaero criticized the government and the Organised Private Sector (OPS) for the breakdown in negotiations, stating that their actions were “less than reasonable” and hindered efforts to reach a fair agreement. He emphasized that a living wage should enable individuals to meet their basic needs without falling into poverty or debt.

In a previous interview, Ajaero provided a detailed breakdown of how the NLC arrived at the N615,000 figure, citing factors such as housing, food, transportation, and healthcare costs. He argued that this amount is necessary to ensure a decent standard of living for Nigerian workers.”