Organised Labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), has reiterated its stance against the N48,000 minimum wage proposed by the Federal Government, emphasizing its demand for a minimum wage of N615,000.
The unions, in an emergency press conference following the FG’s offer, expressed their disappointment, labeling the proposed wage as “an insult to the sensibilities of Nigerian workers.”
This recent deadlock marks the second time in two weeks that negotiations have faltered. The last session, held on April 29, ended similarly after the government rejected Labour’s demand for N615,000 as the new national minimum wage.
Joe Ajaero, the National President of the NLC, defended the proposed N615,000 wage, citing an analysis of the current economic situation and the needs of an average Nigerian family of six. He outlined the breakdown of expenses, including housing, utilities, food, health, education, and transportation, culminating in the N615,000 figure.
Hakeem Ambali, NLC’s National Treasurer, echoed Ajaero’s sentiments, arguing that the N48,000 offer falls short of addressing workers’ needs, particularly in light of food inflation, electricity tariff hikes, and fuel subsidy removal.
Labour has emphasized the need for empirical data to support any proposed wage increase and has urged the government to consider the plight of workers amidst rising living costs.
The unions have set a May 31 deadline for the government to act on the minimum wage issue and have not ruled out the option of strike action if their demands are not met.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has also indicated that strike action remains a viable option, asserting that workers are prepared to exercise their constitutional rights to demand a living wage.
