Labour and Tripartite Committee Dispute Over Minimum Wage

Overview of the Conflict

The Chairman of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage, Bukar Goni Aji, has urged Labour to reconsider its demand for a minimum wage of N250,000, citing the prevailing economic situation in Nigeria. The government has offered N62,000, which Labour has rejected, stating that the amount does not reflect the current cost of living and economic hardships faced by Nigerian workers.

Government Incentives and Arguments

Aji pointed to various incentives provided by the government:

N35,000 wage award for all treasury-paid federal workers.
N100 billion for the procurement of gas-fueled buses and conversion to gas kits.
N125 billion conditional grant for financial inclusion to small and medium-scale enterprises.
N25,000 to be shared with 15 million households for three months.
N185 billion palliative loans to states to mitigate the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
N200 billion to support agriculture.
N75 billion to strengthen the manufacturing sector.
N1 trillion for student loans.
Release and distribution of strategic grain reserves and rice.

He also mentioned salary increases and health cost subsidies for federal workers as part of the government’s efforts to ease economic pressures.

Labour’s Response

Labour representatives accused the Tripartite Committee chairman of being out of touch with the economic hardships faced by workers. They emphasized that their demand of N250,000 was based on a nationwide survey that highlighted the rising cost of living, driven by increased prices of petrol, higher electricity tariffs, and a significant devaluation of the naira.

Economic Realities Highlighted by Labour

Labour provided specific examples of current market prices:

A 50kg bag of rice: N80,000
A decent tuber of yam: N7,000
A half paint bucket of garri: N3,500
A loaf of bread: N2,000
Meat per kg: N6,000
Oil per 75L: N2,000
Monthly electricity bill: N50,000
Daily transport costs in Abuja and Lagos: N3,000 to N4,000

They argued that wages should meet these basic needs and criticized the government’s offer as inadequate and lacking transparency.

Additional Reactions and Statements

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu: Blamed limited resources for governors’ rejection of the N62,000 minimum wage and emphasized the need for skill-based economic growth and affordable living conditions.
Orthodox Anglican Communion: Called for fiscal prudence, accountability, and living wages for workers, alongside tackling issues like poverty, infrastructure, and security.
Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele: Urged Labour to accept any offer above N60,000 in the national interest, stressing the importance of patriotic spirit and dialogue in negotiations.

Conclusion

The dispute over the minimum wage in Nigeria underscores the deep economic challenges faced by workers and the government’s struggle to balance fiscal constraints with fair wage policies. Labour’s insistence on a higher minimum wage highlights the pressing need to address the real cost of living and economic realities for the average Nigerian.