Organized Labor has demanded a new minimum wage of N615,000 for workers in Nigeria, citing the need to cope with the country’s economic realities and the high cost of living.
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero confirmed the development to Channels Television on Sunday.
According to Ajaero, the proposed wage was reached after consultations between the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
Currently, the existing minimum wage of N30,000 can no longer adequately support the well-being of the average Nigerian worker.
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Both NLC and TUC lamented that not all governors are adhering to the current wage award, which is set to expire in April.
The Minimum Wage Act of 2019, signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari, mandates a review every five years to align with contemporary economic demands.
Both the NLC and the TUC have consistently urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to expedite the upward revision of wage awards.
In January, the Federal Government established a 37-member Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage with the task of recommending a new minimum wage for the country.
Previously, the NLC had proposed N1 million as the new minimum wage due to rising inflation, which has pushed many Nigerians into poverty.
Meanwhile, the TUC advocated for N447,000 per month per worker, while the NLC later adjusted its request to N794,000 per worker.
However, the fresh proposal jointly presented by the two unions to the government settled on N615,000 as the new minimum wage for workers.
The unions stressed that that the 31.70 per cent inflation rate as of February 2024 greatly impacted the cost of living for the average Nigerian worker.
They also pointed out that state governors now receive increased monthly revenue allocations from the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), making it feasible to pay public servants.
