As the zonal public hearing on the new wage structure gets underway today in Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, and Abuja, there are significant signs that organized labor would advocate for a minimum wage of N500,000.
In an interview with Arise TV on February 11, Nigeria Labour Congress President Joe Ajaero hinted that organized labor would seek a new minimum salary of up to N1 million for workers in the country if the current inflation trend persisted.
Nonetheless, according to a senior NLC official who spoke with The PUNCH on Thursday, the organized labor may advocate for N500,000 at today's conference based on suggestions made by state chapters to the congress headquarters.
Public hearing on proposed minimum wage increase, which will take place concurrently in each of the six geopolitical zones, and input on a new minimum wage that reflects the goals of workers and the reality of the economy is anticipated from organized labor, state governors, ministries, civil society organizations, and the organized business sector.
The PUNCH has learned that Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, will preside over the North-East gathering, which is scheduled to take place in Yola, the capital of Adamawa State.
The South-West hearing in Lagos will be chaired by Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy.
On January 30, 2024, in the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja, President Bola Tinubu, through his deputy Kashim Shettima, formally inaugurated a 37-member panel on the new minimum wage.
The group, whose members include labor, the private sector, and the federal and state governments, is tasked with proposing a new national minimum wage for the nation by April 1st, at the latest, in order to replace the present N30,000 minimum pay set by law.
Despite holding several meetings in Abuja, the tripartite group has not yet decided on a minimum wage amount.
But in an interview with Arise TV on February 11, NLC President Ajaero warned that organized labor might advocate for a new minimum wage of up to N1 million for Nigerian workers if the current inflation rate persisted.
According to Ajaero, the cost of living would have an impact on the demand from organized labor, which has been rising since President Bola Tinubu took office, mostly as a result of other measures and the elimination of the fuel subsidy.
He stated, "This N1m may be relevant if the naira's value continues to decline and if inflation persists unchecked, as the demand for labor is equally reliant on societal developments."
You may recall that the exchange rate was roughly N800/N900 (to a dollar) at the time we were considering N200,000 as the minimum salary. The exchange rate is almost N1,400 or higher as we speak today.
These are the factors influencing demand, which also has an impact on living expenses. Additionally, we have always stated that the price of current index. I'm sure you'll agree with me that even a bag of rice these days costs at least N60,000 or N70,000
A sack of corn grown nearby costs N56,000 or more. Food is becoming more and more expensive; will we continue to receive a minimal income that will not even cover our weekly transportation costs?
But in an interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday, a senior NLC official stated that, based on an examination of proposals received from state chapters, organized labor would demand a minimum salary that is just a little bit more than N500,000.
The official said that the cost-of-living study done in the states was N900,000. He spoke in confidence because he was not authorized to discuss the negotiations with the media.
"In actuality, the states gave us more than N500,000 when we deflated inconsistencies.
as the amount needed for an average family of six to cover their basic necessities and make ends meet.
"However, we are aware that NLC will deflate it to slightly exceed N500,000 after accounting for some of the items we believe are padded," he stated.
"The NLC has conducted some scientific research on these parameters and the N30,000 that was paid," he continued. When you split the N30,000 that was earned in the previous five years by the current value of that amount and the amount an employee must make to acquire the same item, you arrive at a figure that is almost equal to N300,000.
However, he stated that the NLC's demand would be contingent upon the state and local proposals that were sent to its headquarters.
In light of this, the NLC would not advocate for a national minimum wage that is lower than what the citizens of all of Nigeria's local governments have provided for us.
The representative affirmed that Ajaero would chair the meeting in Adamawa state's capital, Yola.
"On Thursday (today), there will be a simultaneous zonal public hearing on the national minimum wage in all six geopolitical zones," he declared.
"There are meetings in the North-East, South-East, and South-South in Port Harcourt, Lagos, Abuja, and other states; the chairman of the North-East meeting is Joe Ajaero, the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress."
He claims that the state chapters of the NLC do not negotiate the national because they do not belong to the tripartite committee, they receive the minimum wage.
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