4th October, 2023
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, has said it expected a jump in the National Minimum Wage from the current N35,OOO to between N100,000 or N200,000.
He said the huge jump in minimum wage is necessary because of the rising cost of living in the country.
Ajaero, said this on Channels Television on Tuesday evening.
He spoke against the background of the suspension of the strike action initially planned by the NLC and the TUC to commence on Tuesday over the rising cost of living in the country as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy.
The strike was called off after the labour leaders met with government officials and reached an agreement to establish a committee that will fashion out a new minimum wage for the country among others.
The Federal Government had also agreed to pay all federal workers extra N35,000 for the next six months to cushion the effects of removal of fuel subsidy.
Ajaero said N35,000 wage award should not be taken as indicative of the new minimum wage labour leaders will demand from government.
According to him, the unions may demand up to N200,000 as the new minimum wage.
“So, it is not a minimum wage but it is a wage added to the minimum wage. So, should we in March, April, or before that time negotiate the new wage to be N100,000 or N200,000, it would be inscribed as minimum wage law which should be the law in existence,” he said on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
The NLC President added that many factors would be considered in arriving at a new minimum wage.
“Certain things would come into play when we discuss it – inflation, cost of living. Every other thing would come into it.
“We would not go to ask for N65,000. We would go for a realistic amount because N65,000 is about $70 which is not up to minimum wage.”
“The minimum wage is a product of law. Until it is legislated in the National Assembly, it is not a minimum wage,” Ajaero said.