Posted by The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has suggested that, due to inflation, the new minimum wage be set at N100,000 or N200,000.
The union and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had planned a walkout for Tuesday in response to the effects of the loss of the fuel subsidy, but they called off the strike after meeting with government officials in Abuja late on Monday.
To give the government time to fulfill its share of the deal agreed with organized labor, the NLC delayed the implementation of a new minimum wage, which, according to NLC President Joe Ajaero, could be as much as N200,000. The government’s pay award of N35,000.
To clarify, this is not the minimum wage but rather an additional amount paid to workers. If we can negotiate a new pay of N100,000 or N200,000 in March or April, or even sooner, it would be written into law and become effective immediately, he stated on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
The NLC head insisted that the N35,000 salary award is not an increase to the current N30,000 minimum wage, and that several criteria would be taken into account while determining a new minimum wage.
Inflation and the cost of living are two factors that would be discussed. Everything else would be considered,” he elaborated. We wouldn’t go and beg for $65,000 in Niger. Because N65,000 is equivalent to around $70, which is below minimum wage, we would aim for a more reasonable sum.
According to him, the National Assembly would be pivotal in enforcing a new minimum wage.
The minimum wage is the result of legislative action. Ajaero stated that it is not a minimum wage until it is enacted into law by the National Assembly.