Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, recently shed light on how the NLC arrived at the N615,000 minimum wage proposal that was submitted to the Tripartite Committee on minimum wage.
The escalating cost of living in Nigeria, triggered by recent reforms such as the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market, has propelled inflation figures to a staggering 33.2% in March, exacerbating the challenges faced by the economy.
In response, labor unions and the Federal Government have been engaged in intense negotiations, with a primary focus on establishing a new minimum wage to alleviate the hardships faced by the populace.
The NLC is advocating for a substantial increase in the monthly salary for workers, proposing a raise from the current N30,000 to N615,000.
While some view this proposal as impractical, the labor union believes that many states could afford it by reassessing their fiscal priorities.
Ajaero emphasized that the proposed figure was the result of a meticulous process that factored in the living expenses of Nigerian workers and families nationwide.
Conducted independently by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress, the research aimed to ascertain the costs associated with meeting the basic needs of an average family in different parts of the country.
Describing the methodology, Ajaero explained that surveys were distributed to State Councils of NLC and TUC, which in turn were disseminated to members across local government areas to gather data on the monthly cost of living for a typical family structure.
“It is imperative to recognize that the proposed figure was determined prior to the recent hike in electricity tariffs and the fuel scarcity issues leading to increased transportation costs and long queues at petrol stations across the nation,” Ajaero added.
Ajaero expressed strong opposition to any wage below the proposed amount, branding it as a meager income that would perpetuate poverty among Nigerian workers and their families.
He highlighted the urgency of finalizing negotiations for a new minimum wage, citing the expiration of the previous wage agreement and the government’s failure to initiate talks six months prior to the deadline, causing a delay in implementing the new wage.