Minimum Wage: Why We May Not Accept N100,000 – Organised Labour

The Organised Labour has rejected any government proposal of N100,000 as the new minimum wage, calling for a more serious approach to negotiations concerning workers’ wages. Labour groups, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), maintain that they used the lowest minimum calculations to arrive at their demand for N615,000 as the new minimum wage.

This stance follows the labour’s withdrawal from a negotiation meeting last Wednesday, where the government offered N48,000 as the new minimum wage. In response, the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage, chaired by Alhaji Bukar Goni, has invited organised labour for another meeting, indicating that the government is willing to reconsider its position.

NLC’s Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, emphasized the need for the government to be serious about the negotiations. “Our expectations are that the government should be serious this time around. We expect them to take more seriously the issue of wages of workers,” he said.

On the possibility of accepting N100,000, Upah explained, “When we demanded N615,000, we broke that down using the barest minimum. For instance, we put accommodation at N40,000 and feeding at N500 per meal, which is unrealistic for a family of six. The government has also increased electricity tariffs by 250 percent, introducing new costs. So, if the government is serious, it should not be thinking about offering N100,000.”

Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, a member of the NLC delegation, echoed similar sentiments, stating, “One hundred thousand naira is far below expectation. It will not keep a worker with a family of six alive. We need an amount that reflects the cost of living and the realities of the current economic situation.”

He also pointed out that even artisans in the private sector earn more than N100,000 a month. “We will accept something that can at least keep somebody alive. The government should justify why they cannot pay N615,000,” Ndubuaku added.

Organised labour has also criticized the government’s spending priorities. “Since the removal of subsidy, FAAC has been collecting almost three times what they were before. Yet, the government is planning expensive projects like building new highways and importing vehicles for customs, while ignoring the needs of its workers,” said Ndubuaku.

Labour leaders have called for the government to break down their proposed figures and explain their spending. “If the government can’t pay N615,000, they need to explain why. We expect a realistic and transparent breakdown of costs, covering essential needs like food, accommodation, and healthcare,” Upah asserted.

The Organised Labour has made it clear that any future negotiations will depend on the government’s willingness to present realistic figures and demonstrate a genuine commitment to addressing the economic challenges faced by Nigerian workers.