Organized Labour is firm on its demand for a new minimum wage of N250,000, rejecting what it describes as a ‘starvation wage.’ Chris Onyeka, Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), stated that labour will not accept the latest offers of ₦62,000 or ₦100,000 made by some individuals and economists.
NLC President Joe Ajaero mentioned that the unionists are awaiting President Bola Tinubu’s decision on their proposal. He made this known in an interview on Monday during the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.
On the same day, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation announced that the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage had submitted its report. Last Friday, the committee concluded meetings with the Federal Government and the Organised Private Sector. While the government and the OPS agreed on N62,000, labour demanded N250,000. The Nigeria Governors’ Forum stated that any minimum wage higher than N60,000 is unsustainable.
Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations at the OSGF, said the committee report would be presented to the President when the labour leaders return from Switzerland. He thanked the committee chairman, Bukar Aji, and members for their commitment.
Speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Morning Brief’ on Monday, Onyeka said, “We have never considered accepting ₦62,000 or any other wage below what Nigerian workers can take home. We will not negotiate a starvation wage.” He emphasized that labour’s demand of ₦250,000 is a fair concession to the government.
Onyeka warned that the one-week ultimatum given to the Federal Government since the suspension of the strike would expire at midnight on Tuesday. He indicated that if the government and the National Assembly fail to act on workers’ demands, the NLC and TUC would decide on resuming nationwide industrial action.
Ajaero, addressing journalists in Geneva, clarified that labour has not accepted the government’s proposed ₦62,000 minimum wage. He explained that the union is waiting for the President’s decision on the figures presented by the tripartite committee. He expressed hope that President Tinubu would do the right thing, noting the significant gap between ₦62,000 and ₦250,000.
Ajaero criticized the Nigeria Governors’ Forum for rejecting the ₦62,000 minimum wage proposal. He highlighted that governors should decentralize their salaries and emulate those, like Edo State’s Governor Godwin Obaseki, who are paying higher minimum wages.
In an interview with Arise News, Benson Upah, head of the information department for the NLC, blamed the government’s financial mismanagement for the country’s economic difficulties. He argued that the problem lies not with wages but with government profligacy. He noted that the joint National Executive Council meeting of the TUC and NLC had anticipated potential bad faith from the government but chose to pause the strike in good faith.
Upah accused certain state governors of undermining the minimum wage negotiations, describing their actions as mischievous. He insisted that labour’s demands are practical and reasonable and that the states are financially capable of meeting these demands.
Regarding the next steps, Upah said that the appropriate labour organs would meet and decide the course of action, emphasizing that labour is ready for negotiations conducted in good faith.
