The organised labour has once again turned down the federal government’s proposal of N60,000 as the new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers. This latest offer, which represents a N6,000 increase from the earlier proposal of N54,000, was presented during Tuesday’s resumed negotiations involving the federal government, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the private sector.
The meeting, held at the NICON Luxury Hotel in Abuja, saw leaders of the NLC and TUC stage a walkout immediately after the government presented the N60,000 proposal. The labour representatives maintained that they would only agree to a proposal that constitutes a living wage.
Reacting to the government’s latest offer, labour representatives described the proposed amount as insufficient to ensure workers’ survival under the current economic conditions. A source within the organised labour, who spoke on condition of anonymity, criticized the proposal as inadequate and far from what is needed for meaningful negotiations.
“How can we agree on N60,000 – an amount that cannot even buy a bag of rice to serve as a national minimum wage? Assuming you spend N2,000 daily on a loaf of bread for one meal, three meals will cost N6,000 per day, amounting to N180,000 per month. This calculation doesn’t even include other essentials like tea, butter, or water. Who can survive on this?” the source questioned.
The source added that the government had previously urged labour to wait for a living minimum wage when petrol prices were increased, but now, despite their demand for a living wage, the government appears to be evading the issue. The source also hinted at a potential strike notice if the government’s proposal remains unsatisfactory after the current ultimatum expires in two to three days.
In response to the ongoing disagreement, a source at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment revealed that the Minister, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has been engaging in extensive consultations to resolve the matter.
Minister Onyejeocha appealed to the organised labour to be considerate and patriotic in their demands during the ongoing negotiations. In a statement signed by the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Olajide Oshundun, the minister emphasized the government’s commitment to securing a fair and realistic wage for Nigerian workers, while noting that the economy is still recovering from the pandemic and other economic challenges.
“We appeal to organised labour and indeed, other relevant stakeholders to be considerate and patriotic in their demands, recognising that our economy is still recovering from the devastating effects of the pandemic and other global economic shocks,” Onyejeocha stated. She assured that the government is dedicated to prioritising the wellbeing of citizens and urged all parties to demonstrate understanding during this critical period.
The minister highlighted that the government’s move to increase the proposed minimum wage from N57,000 to N60,000 reflects its willingness to address labour concerns and work towards a mutually beneficial agreement. “This increase is a demonstration of our willingness to listen to the concerns of labour and work towards a mutually beneficial agreement,” she said, emphasizing the government’s commitment to mitigating the economic challenges faced by its citizens.
