The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have issued a May 31 deadline to the Federal Government to implement a new minimum wage of ₦615,000 for Nigerian workers
Speaking at the Workers’ Day celebrations at Eagle Square in Abuja on Wednesday, NLC President Joe Ajaero and TUC President Festus Osifo emphasized that the current minimum wage of ₦30,000 is grossly insufficient due to economic realities and inflationary pressures.
Ajaero warned that if the minimum wage negotiation continues beyond May, industrial harmony cannot be guaranteed. Osifo also demanded an immediate reversal of the recent electricity tariff increase for Band A customers.
The Minister of State Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, assured workers that the Tripartite Committee On National Minimum Wage is working to conclude negotiations, and the new minimum wage will take effect from May 1, 2024.
However, Ajaero criticized the Federal Government’s recent announcement of a 25-35% salary increase for civil servants, calling it “mischievous” as there is no wage increment.
The NLC and TUC have proposed a living wage of ₦615,000, breaking it down into components such as housing, electricity, utility, food, medical, clothing, education, sanitation, and transportation.
The Federal Government has yet to implement the recommendations of the Tripartite Committee On National Minimum Wage, which was inaugurated in January.
Workers across Nigeria marked May Day amidst worsening fuel scarcity and unending queues at filling stations, despite assurances from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to address the issue.
