The organized labour has firmly rejected the federal government’s proposed ₦62,000 or ₦100,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
In an interview on Channels Television on Monday, Chris Onyeka, Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), described such proposals as “starvation wages.” Onyeka emphasized that the labour union’s demand for a living wage remains at ₦250,000.
“Our position is very clear. We have never considered accepting ₦62,000 or any other wage that we know is below what can sustain Nigerian workers. We will not negotiate a starvation wage. We are still at ₦250,000, which we believe is a fair concession to the government. Our demand is based on the realities of the marketplace,” Onyeka stated.
The one-week grace period given to the federal government to review its proposal, which began on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, expires by midnight on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Onyeka indicated that the labour unions would decide on resuming the nationwide industrial action if the federal government and National Assembly fail to act on workers’ demands by the deadline.
“The ball is in the Federal Government and the National Assembly’s court. Our demand is clear, and we expect the government to act on it and send an Executive Bill to the National Assembly. If no tangible response is received by tomorrow, the organized labour will meet to decide the next steps,” he added.
Onyeka also mentioned that if the government insists on ₦62,000, labour might resume the nationwide indefinite strike that was previously paused.
**Background on Minimum Wage Talks**
After weeks of unsuccessful negotiations for a new minimum wage, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) began a nationwide strike last Monday, demanding a new wage and the reversal of the electricity tariff hike. The unions argue that the current minimum wage of ₦30,000 is insufficient given the current inflationary pressures.
The strike was suspended for five days after the labour unions signed a commitment with the federal government to resume negotiations and agree on a new minimum wage within a week. This followed a six-hour meeting between labour leaders and the National Assembly in Abuja.
President Bola Tinubu directed the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, to present the cost implications of a new minimum wage within two days. Alongside the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, Edun presented these implications to Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Thursday.
Despite these efforts, labour and the government failed to reach an agreement on Friday, June 7, 2024. While labour reduced its demand from ₦494,000 to ₦250,000, the government only increased its offer from ₦60,000 to ₦62,000. Both sides have submitted their reports to the President, who is expected to make a decision and send an executive bill to the National Assembly for the new minimum wage to be enacted into law.
