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UPDATED: Minimum wage implementation takes effect from May 1, 2024, says FG

The Federal Government has assured workers in the country that the implementation of the new national minimum would still take effect from May 1, 2024.

Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, gave the assurance during the commemoration of the May Day celebration, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The theme of the 2024 May Day celebration is ’People First’.

Onyejeocha recalled that on Jan. 30, 2024, the Federal Government took a decisive step towards enhancing the welfare of Nigerian workers by inaugurating a 37-man Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage.

According her, this committee was tasked with the critical responsibility of recommending a realistic national minimum wage that aligns with our current economic landscape.

“Since then, the committee has been working tirelessly alongside Labour leaders to reach an agreement on a new National Minimum Wage that reflects the country’s economic realities.

Read Also: May Day: We’ll not delay action on new minimum wage – Makinde

“Although the committee could not reach a consensus at its last meeting before the May deadline.

“We want to reassure Nigerian workers that we are working diligently around the clock with organised labour to conclude negotiations and ensure a successful outcome.

“Our commitment is unwavering and the Nigerian workers should be rest assured that in spite of the short delay, the new minimum wage will take effect on April 1, 2024,”she said.

According to her, this government is receptive to the committee’s suggestion of transitioning beyond a mere minimum wage to a living wage that truly reflects the value of workers’ contributions.

Onyejeocha said it was unacceptable for any worker to toil tirelessly and still struggle to make ends meet, hence, the ongoing efforts by the federal government to pay Wage Award to workers and review of the National Minimum Wage by a tripartite Committee.

She further said this was to ensure that every worker received a fair living wage that would enable them to live with dignity, provide for their families, and contribute to the growth of the economy.

The minister also affirmed government’s commitment to placing the needs and aspirations of workers at the forefront of the national agenda.

She said this was through the provision of fair and just working conditions which were not just ideals but basic human rights.

“This is because every worker deserves to work in an environment free from exploitation, discrimination, and oppression.

“We must, therefore, strive to create workplaces that foster dignity, respect, job security and inclusivity for all,”she said.

She urged all stakeholders to embrace a spirit of cooperation, understanding, and patriotism, coupled with diligence and increased productivity.

She added that by working together, we could lift our nation out of poverty and usher in an era of prosperity for workers and citizens alike.

“Rest assured that this government empathises with the struggles of workers and citizens and will not falter in its commitment to their well-being.

“I urge organised labour to foster a conducive environment that promotes constructive engagement and collaborative problem-solving for the benefit of all stakeholders and the nation as a whole,” she said.(NAN)

May 1, 2024
BREAKING: New minimum wage to be effected from May 1, 2024, says FG

The federal government has reassured workers that despite that the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage has not concluded its discussions, they will not experience any loss, as the new minimum wage is scheduled to take effect from May 1, 2024.

The Minister of State Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, announced this on Wednesday while addressing Nigerian workers at the May Day celebration at the Eagle Square in Abuja.

Read Also: BREAKING: Obaseki announces N70, 000 minimum wage for Edo workers

She stated that although the new national minimum wage was not available before May 1, extensive consultations are being held to guarantee that the document is released as soon as possible.

The Nation reported that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) chairman, Joe Ajaero suggested a N615,000 living wage for workers.

Details shortly…

May 1, 2024
Minimum wage delay

It’s impossible to have a new national minimum wage in Nigeria before the end of May, when the President Bola Tinubu administration will mark its first anniversary, according to the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC). Its president, Festus Osifo, said the body’s National Executive Council, on April 25, “discussed the issue of minimum wage and that the government has to do everything possible to ensure that this is fast tracked because the only way you can inflate your economy is when you empower the working class.”

This gives the impression that the Federal Government is responsible for the delay. The National Minimum Wage Committee is made up of representatives of the federal government, state governments, the private sector and organised labour.

Last year, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed, was reported saying the N30,000 national minimum wage would expire at the end of March 2024, adding, “Certainly, there is a new wage regime that will come in on April 1, 2024.” That did not happen.

Osifo also observed that “the last wage award that was paid to the federal workers was February 2024 and that of March and April that is just ending have not been paid.” TUC called on the Federal Government to “immediately release the payment of wage award for March 2024 and April 2024 and to ensure regular payments moving forward, so that at the end of April, when salary is coming in, the wage award is also paid until the new minimum wage is put in place as agreed in the communique of October 2 of 2023.”

Read Also: New minimum wage: May 1 not feasible, says TUC President

The Tinubu presidency had reached an agreement with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and TUC, following the dispute that arose from the removal of fuel subsidy and the threat of a nationwide strike by the unions.

The Tinubu administration had approved the payment of a wage award of N35,000 monthly, for six months, to all federal government workers, starting from September 2023, and “pending when a new national minimum wage is expected to have been signed into law.” The administration should honour the agreement.

TUC identified state governments that have performed poorly “in terms of payment of wage award, in terms of putting palliatives in place,” naming Benue, Anambra, Imo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Kebbi and Katsina states. These state governments can be described as spoilers.

The new minimum wage is overdue since the old one has expired. The issue should be resolved without further delay.

April 29, 2024
May Day: Workers await new minimum wage

As workers join their counterparts globally to mark the International Workers’ Day, known as May Day, the minimum wage increase, among others, will top wishes of the workers. TOBA AGBOOLA writes.

Workers are gearing up for the May Day celebrations with high expectations, particularly on the long-awaited increase in the national minimum wage.

Workers’ expectations extend beyond just a wage increase. They hope for additional measures from the government to address the economic challenges they face.These measures could include incentives to offset the effects of recent policies and initiatives to strengthen the purchasing power of Nigerians.

Theme,’ People First ‘, the Organised Labour will expect the government to use the opportunity offered by the occasion to address the worsening poverty, insecurity, unemployment, inflation, high cost of living and frustration in the nation.

They asked the government to stabilise the falling naira, make the economy attractive to foreign investors and friendly to small businesses, and improve the living conditions of citizens, among other demands.

Negotiations between organised labour and the government on the minimum wage and other relief measures will also be watched in the coming days.

NLC to govt: pay new minimum wage

Aside from demanding a new minimum wage, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is also asking for the creation of state and local government police to tackle insecurity.

The congress also stressed that states and local governments, as well as the organised private sector, must pay the new minimum wage when it is eventually approved.

According to the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, Nigerians had become scavengers due to the rising economic hardship.

He said several incidents of attacks and looting of warehouses and food trucks had been reported in many cities against the backdrop of the hardship and the cost of living crisis.

Ajaero, however, noted that the government must fulfil its promises and responsibilities to Nigerians, instead of pretending to be deaf to their pleas

The NLC president said: “Food has become so scarce that Nigerians have become scavengers and resorting to raiding food trucks and warehouses for food. If those in the government cannot see the danger in what is happening, we see it and must ensure that the government fulfils its duties to the people.

“We are increasingly going hungry in our father’s land and cannot continue in this destitution. The greatest unifier and mobiliser of people is hunger. It insults common sense when those in government assume that somebody is sponsoring people who are protesting because of hunger.”

He urged the Federal Government to remove impediments on healthcare workers’ paths to migrating to greener pastures.

Ajaero said their removal was imperative due to the unfortunate socio-economic situation confronting workers and, indeed, the masses.

Also, the Head of Information, NLC, Comrade Benson Upah, said the congress is expecting the dividends of good governance from this administration.

“To mark this year’s Workers Day , our expectations are good governance, strong institutions, more accountability, less corruption, respect for law and order by the government, more citizen participation in governance, lower exchange and inflation rates, higher standard of living for the citizens, and renewed hope in the country,” Upah said.

He noted that the government must resist the urge to make Nigeria a one-party state, adding that such would have dire consequences for the country.

“The government should resist the urge to make Nigeria a one-party state. Our history teaches us that there are usually dire consequences for such political greed or inordinate political ambition,” Upah added.

TUC: pass attention to new minimum wage

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) called on the Federal Government to use the Workers’ Day celebration to anounce a new minimum wage to tackle the rising cost of living.

According to the TUC President, Comrade Festus Osifo, since the removal of fuel subsidy, the cost of living has spiked and inflation figures pushing new highs in Nigeria.

Osifo said a new minimum wage was part of the solutions proffered by the union to address the hardship.

He said the intability in the FX market had further eroded the value of the minimum wage.

The TUC leadership called for the passage and implementation of a new minimum wage law that reflects the economic realities.

He recommended a further clamping down on currency speculators, especially those online, who they say have made remittances from abroad drop.

Osifo also proposed that the government should review taxes on some critical imported goods to ease the hardship.

The TUC chief blamed insecurity for the rise in the cost of foodstuff, noting that many farmers have not gone to their farms. Thus Osifo also called on the three tiers of government to invest on decent work to save the economy from ruin

He said: “The seismic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities in our societal and economic fabric, worsened by soaring food and energy costs, extreme weather events, and conflicts.

“This confluence of factors inflicts hardship on countless Nigerians, intensifying poverty, exclusion, and inequality.

“We call on governments at all levels, the federal, states and local government to invest in decent work and social justice because for now the dream of social justice remains distant for too many. In the quest for a better life, unsafe working conditions stands as a fundamental pillar.

“With the dwindling public resources, the fiscal and monetary authorities should initiate policies to boost the activities of the private sector because the sectors’ investment would be a solution for bridging funding gaps and unlocking infrastructure projects, leading to innovation, job creation, and stimulating economic activity”.

National Vice President, TUC, Tommy Etim emphasised the importance of May Day for workers, calling it a “day of great anticipation”.

He highlighted concerns about the impact of recent government policies on the welfare of workers, particularly rising poverty.

Read Also: Minimum wage: Harmonised package to be ready May 29

He noted that there were lots of expectations, particularly since some of the newly initiated policies of the government had continued to push more Nigerians into poverty.

Etim emphasised the urgent need for a new minimum wage to counter rising living costs.

Earlier in the month, organised labour had pegged the new minimum wage at N615,000 per month tentatively.

He said: “The Workers’ Day is a type of Christmas Day to workers and there are lots of expectations. The welfare of workers is paramount and should be taken into consideration. It is also expected that lots of incentives will be rolled out to cushion the effects of the policies initiated by the government, which have continued to limit the purchasing power of workers and Nigerians as a whole.

“At present, the purchasing power is weak in the country. It is also expected that a new minimum wage will be announced on that day. Workers are looking forward to that. Also, we expect that the government finally use the opportunity to launch the CNG buses which it promised over a year ago. These are our expectations.”

Civil servants react

Speaking with The Nation, a civil servant in Lagos, Mr Tola Oni, urged the Federal Government to consider salary adjustment and welfare improvement in the year.

He added that civil servants would anticipate such reviews from the government and implement measures to enhance their overall welfare, considering the inflation and the high cost of living.

He said: “We want the government to review and adjust the salary structure because of the inflation and the high cost of living. We also want them to implement policies that will improve our welfare, including healthcare and housing benefits.”

Another civil servant, who identified herself only as Faramade, suggested the continuous training of government’s workers.

She noted that opportunities must be created to enhance the skills and capabilities of civil servants and ensure that they were well-equipped.

Another civil servant, Gabriel Akpan, said the government should increase salaries and regularise the prices of commodities.

He said: “Things are so expensive.The government should regularise the prices of commodities, and invest in infrastructure, particularly roads.”

IT experts seek cyber crime law enforcement

An Information Technology (IT) expert, Mr Anthony Udo said the Federal Government should enforce more stringent regulations and standards to boost cyber security and tame the rise in the rate of cyber threats.

He noted that the government should work on expanding technology infrastructure like broadband connectivity to support the growth of the digital economy.

He added: “Our expectations include increased government investment in improving and expanding technology infrastructure, such as broadband connectivity to support the growth of our digital economy.

“The government should also foster a more tech-savvy population by promoting digital literacy initiatives to empower the people.”

Another IT expert, Chidinma Uche, corroborated Udo’s stance, saying their expectation from the government was to introduce policies and programmes to enhance further innovation, entrepreneurship, and the growth of tech start-ups, adding that this would contribute to job creation and economic development in the technology sector.

Mr Ibrahim Mukhtar, who is also an IT expert, said the Federal Government should ensure that pressing issues were addressed.

He said: “My expectations from the Federal Government revolve around fostering inclusive and sustainable development.

“I anticipate a commitment to addressing pressing issues such as healthcare, education, and environmental concerns.

Specifically, I hope for policies that promote accessible and quality healthcare for all, initiatives to enhance educational opportunities, and a strong dedication to environmental conservation.

“Additionally, I look forward to transparent governance, economic policies that prioritise job creation, and efforts to bridge socio-economic disparities. Ultimately, my expectation is for a government that actively engages with the diverse needs of its citizens, ensuring a brighter and more equitable future for the nation.”

A schoolteacher, Mrs Adekoya Eunice, said the welfare of the masses should be the main focus of the government.

She said, “The Federal Government should pay attention to the welfare of the masses. First, there should be a significant increase in the salaries of civil servants and government workers.

“Security in the country should also be improved so that Nigerians can sleep well at night. The Federal government should also make sure that commodities become affordable.”

April 26, 2024
Minimum wage: Harmonised package to be ready May 29

A harmonised new minimum national wage may be ready on or before President Bola Tinubu’s first anniversary on May 29.

A source in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) which made this known to The Nation yesterday, said the new wage would meet the nation’s current economic reality.

The government’s representatives on the Bukar Goni Aji-led tripartite committee met yesterday to consider the proposals presented by the Organised Labour on the issue.

The source, who did not divulge specific information from the meeting, said: “They want to ensure that there’s a reasonable, realistic minimum wage, They’ll be having another meeting in another few days and that’s because they want to ensure that something happens on or before May 29.

Read Also: Minimum wage: Crisis brews in states over chapters’ demand for jumbo pay

“The way the discussions are going, the focus is to ensure that Nigerian workers have something reasonable to meet the economic reality of now. This is one of the things the members are harping on.

“I am sure before or on May 29, they should be able to come up with something reasonable that will gladden the hearts of Nigerians.”

Vice President Kashim Shettima inaugurated the tripartite committee on January 30 at the State House, Abuja.

The committee has federal and state governments, Organised Labour, and the private sector representatives as members.

April 26, 2024
What to expect from new minimum wage negotiations

Hope rises for workers as the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage holds public hearing for the new minimum wage. TOBA AGBOOLA writes.

Fireworks are being expected as the public hearings are taking place in six geopolitical zones, including Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa and Abuja.

Chaired by Ekpo Nta, also the Chairman, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, the committee called for the involvement of stakeholders in the negotiations.

It would recalled that President Bola Tinubu, represented by his deputy, Kashim Shettima, on January 30, this year, inaugurated a 37-member panel on the new minimum wage at the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja.

The panel, with membership, which cuts across the Federal and state governments, private sector and organised labour, is saddled with recommending a new national minimum wage for the country on or before April 1, following the expiration of the N30,000 minimum wage.

The Vice President, during the inauguration, had urged members to “speedily” arrive at a resolution and submit their reports early as the current N30,000 minimum wage expires at the end of the month.

Though the tripartite committee had met a few times in Abuja, it has yet to deliberate or agree on any figure.

Divergent proposals

The hearing has seen labour and some other groups coming up with various proposals that reflect the state of economic decadence and bastardisation of workers’ earnings no thanks to inflation.

In the Southwest, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded N794,000 as the new national minimum wage for workers in the region’s geopolitical zone.

The chairperson of the Lagos State chapter of the NLC, Funmi Sessi, during her presentation at the public hearing of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage in Ikeja, Lagos, said the demand was the decision of members of the union in the region, “reflecting the consensus on the need for a substantial increase in the minimum wage to meet the economic realities faced by workers in the region”.

According to her, “this call for an increase comes when the cost of living has skyrocketed, pushing many workers into financial hardship.”

The Northwest leadership of the congress proposal was drastically lower: N485,000.

Though labour unions in that region, where the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, chaired the hearing, proposed a monthly national minimum wage of N560,000, both the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) branches across the six states in the region recommended the amount.

But in contrast, the Adamawa and Bauchi State governments suggested N45,000.

NLC Chairman, Adamawa State, Emmanuel Fashe, presented the joint recommendation, advocating a biennial review of the minimum wage instead of the five-year cycle.

Suprisingly, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Adamawa State recommended N486,000, considering various family expenditures.

Read Also: Tinubu urges Senate to confirm Adamu Galunje as CCB chairman

Other groups, including the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), aligned with the NLC’s position.

The hearing addressed diverse recommendations from various stakeholders, with differing amounts proposed, including N200,000 by NCWS and N75,000 by the Muslim Council of Nigeria (MCN).

In the Northcentral, the NLC chapter in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) suggested a revised minimum wage of N709,000.

The FCT chapter Chairman of NLC, Dr. Stephen Knabayi, presented the proposal but, in a parallel recommendation, Mr. Amaege Chukwudi, the leader of the TUC, FCT chapter, proposed a monthly minimum wage of N447,000.

From the Southsouth, the NLC recommended a revised minimum wage of N850,000.

The NLC and the TUC in the Southeast region recommended N540,000 and N447,000, as the new minimum wage.

Representing the NLC in the region, Fabian Nwigbo, the Chairman of the NLC, Enugu State Chapter, emphasised that the purchasing power of the 2019 N30,000 minimum wage had been eroded by inflation.

Last month, Ajaero, in an interview, had hinted that if the inflation continued, organised labour might push for a new minimum wage of up to N1 million.

Ajaero said the demand from organised labour would be influenced by the cost of living, which had been increasing since President Tinubu assumed office, notably due to the removal of the fuel subsidy and other policies.

Explaining further, the congress boss said when labour was contemplating N200,000 (as minimum wage), the exchange rate was about N800/N900 (to a dollar). “As we talk today, the exchange rate is about N1,500 or even more. Those are the issues that determine the demand and it is equally affecting the cost of living. And we have always said that our demand will be based on the cost of living index, ” he stated.

The TUC had demanded a new minimum wage of N200,000.

The Director-General, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, the body representing the Organised Private Sector (OPS), equally canvassed the negotiation of a new wage that is commensurate with the realities of the situation.

Oyerinde said employers would support a realistic minimum wage, noting that within the context of the negotiation, there are other variables beyond inflation rates. “You also look at the ability of businesses to pay, you also look at the economic situation and productivity,”

he added. While he mentioned that there had been a conversation about the concept of a living wage and the reasons a living wage was desirable, he said globally, there is no framework for arriving at a living wage.

Although the hearing might have seen multifarious contributions and proposals, stakeholders have expressed that it only shows the beauty of democracy and a good step in the right direction towards arriving at a living wage that will put a smile on workers’ faces.

March 15, 2024
States reject Labour’s new minimum wage demands
- Fed Govt promises fair, sustainable salaries
- NLC, TUC propose different figures
States yesterday kicked against Labour’s minimum wage demands, saying they were not realistic.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is proposing N709,000 while the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) is recommending N447,000 as the new minimum wage for workers.

But states are proposing between N45,000 and N70,000.

The NLC and TUC chapters in the six Northeast states recommended a minimum of N560,000 per month.

In the Southeast, they proposed N540,000 per month.

Labour in the Southwest suggested N794,000 as the minimum wage.

The Southsouth NLC zonal chapters proposed at least N850,000 per month.

In the Northwest, Labour proposed N485,000 per month.

The proposals were presented when six cities across the six geo-political zones hosted discussions on the new minimum wage.

The current minimum wage is N30,000, which went into effect in April 2019.

The Federal Government in January constituted a 37-member Tripartite Committee to negotiate and agree on the new minimum wage due to take effect this year.

The tripartite panel’s sitting is currently ongoing in Abuja.

The Federal Government fixed yesterday’s public hearings to get the input of the generality of the people, Labour and pressure groups, and religious and business leaders.

Yesterday’s discussions were held in Yola, Northeast; Kano, Northwest; Abuja, Northcentral; Uyo, Southsouth; Enugu, Southeast, and Lagos, Southwest.

Minister of Finance/the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, who chaired the Lagos event, restated the Federal Government’s commitment to a new minimum wage.

Speaking at the Southwest zonal public hearing held at the LTV Blue Roof Arena in Ikeja, Edun promised workers “a living wage that is fair and sustainable”.

Read Also: South-East NLC, TUC propose N540,000, N447,000 as new minimum wage

He said: “We are committed to ushering in a new minimum wage that would improve the living conditions of workers.”

The minister spoke against the backdrop of the N794,000 monthly wage demanded by the Southwest NLC.

On whether prices of goods and services could erode any salary increase, the minister stressed the need to also increase productivity.

Edun said: “We have all agreed that if there is an increase in the minimum wage, there should be an increase in productivity.

“This entails investment in machinery and facilities that will make the workers even more productive because that is how to get a monetary increase without causing inflation.

“When workers become more productive, companies become more profitable and then we will be able to afford the increase in the national minimum wage without causing inflation.”

Edun urged other arms of government to adjust the stipends of pensioners in the wake of the minimum wage review.

He added: “There is a natural structure and so it’s up to each level of government not just to look after its workers, but after its pensioners.

“So, if there is an increase in wages, it should also apply to pensioners.

“During my time as the Commissioner for Finance in Lagos, there was a regular increase in the payment of pensioners; they were not left at one level.

“When salaries increase, pensions should also increase, and that is what we expect at various levels.

“But it equally depends on the availability of resources and affordability to make those payments. So, we don’t expect that it will be one size fits all.”

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Head of Service (HoS), Bode Agoro, said Lagos looked forward to a fair and realistic wage structure.

He said: “In Lagos, we have always prioritized the welfare of our workers, recognising that a well-compensated and motivated workforce is essential for sustainable development.

“One notable accomplishment has been the regular review of the minimum wage.

“I am proud to announce that Lagos has implemented a minimum wage of N41,500, surpassing the standards set by many other states in the region.”

Southwest NLC demand N794,000

NLC chapters of the five Southwest states, represented by the Lagos Chairperson, Agnes Funmi Sessi, demanded N794,000 as the new minimum wage.

Sessi said the sum was agreed on by all the members of the union in the Southwest.

She said based on the current cost of food, house rent, electricity, transportation, medicals, education, social expenses, and clothing, Nigerian workers deserve a living wage that is fair and commensurate with the economic realities.

According to Sessi, compared to other African countries, Nigeria’s national minimum wage of N30,000 is nothing to write home about.

She said the current minimum wage of N30,000 monthly is equivalent to $40.8; compared to Seychelles $465.4; Libya $321.83; Morocco $314.7; Gabon $270.5; and Equatorial Guinea $211.54.

Her position was backed by Prof. Victor Adejumo of the Obafemi Awolowo University, who represented the Congress of University Academics (CONUA).

He said a minimum of N600,000 monthly would be acceptable to CONUA.

“But, it is open to dialogue,” he added.

Benjamin Olowojebutu, who spoke on behalf of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), said his association proposed $300 or $400, which is over N600,000.

NLC proposes N709, 000, TUC suggests N447, 000

NLC and TUC proposed N709,000 and N447,000 as the new minimum wage respectively.

The two labour centres made their presentations at the Northcentral Zonal public hearing.

The figures, they said, were “largely influenced by the present realities.”

Plateau rejects suggestion

The Plateau State government, represented by its Permanent Secretary, Establishment and Labour Relations, proposed N60,000, N70,000 and N80,000 instead.

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, represented by the Head of Service of the State, Abigail Waya, urged the Tripartite Committee to allow his state to renegotiate minimum wage.

He said economic realities may not allow the state to pay a wage beyond its financial capability.

Niger State government said it was willing to pay any amount fixed by the committee.

Pensioners, represented by the Federal Civil Service Pensioners Union Chairman, Comrade Sunday Omezi, asked for 85 per cent of whatever figure the Tripartite Committee agreed.

Northeast NLC, CAN recommend N560,000, N486,000

TUC and NLC branches in the six Northeast states proposed N560,000.

They said the sum was arrived at after considering the prevailing economic situation.

Chairman of the NLC in Adamawa, Emmanuel Fashe, who spoke for his colleagues, recommended a bi-annual review of the minimum wage.

The state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), demanded N486,000 per month.

Its acting Chairman, Gambo Bupwadta, who presented the memorandum of the association, said the association conducted a painstaking assessment of the expenditures of average families.

These include feeding, medical needs, accommodation, transportation and education to arrive at the amount.

The state branch of the NMA backed the position of the NLC.

The Adamawa chapter of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) demanded N200,000.

The Muslim Council of Nigeria in the state asked for N75,000.

Bauchi, Adamawa govts kick

The Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed proposed a N45,000 minimum wage.

Deputy Governor of Adamawa, Prof Kaletapwa Farauta, who represented Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, also proposed the same wage.

The hearing was chaired by NLC President Joe Ajaero.

Representatives of the Gombe and Taraba governments suggested a N60,000 minimum wage.

Southeast stakeholders propose N540,000

Labour in the Southeast proposed N540,000.

It said the minimum wage should be reviewed every two years.

It said any governor who failed to implement the minimum wage should be impeached.

The stakeholders, including the NLC, TUC, NMA and civil society organisations, were at the Enugu hearing.

Enugu NLC chairman, Fabian Nwigbo, who spoke on behalf of his five colleagues, called for the minimum wage to remain in the exclusive legislative list so that no governor can tamper with it.

He also lamented that to date, some states were yet to pay the N30,000 minimum wage.

Nwigbo said: “In 2019 when we were talking about N30,000 minimum wage, a paint bucket of ‘garri’ was N250. Today, the same measurement is N2,500.

“Then, the same measurement for rice was N450, beans N280, while fuel was N145 per litre.

“The N30,000 minimum wage has subsisted when a litre of fuel is N750 and above depending on where you are buying from; a paint of rice is now between N5,000 and N6,000.

“The rent of a two-bedroom flat in Enugu that used to be N250,000 to N300,000 is now N600,000 to N840,000 per annum.

“Those in the metropolis pay N1.2 million and above. Yet, the minimum wage is still N30,000. Every other thing is moving up except the salary of workers.”

Southsouth NLC proposes N850,000

The Southsouth NLC zonal chapter proposed N850,000 per month.

It called for the impeachment or imprisonment of any governor who refused to abide by the new minimum wage benchmark.

Chairman of NLC in Akwa Ibom, Sunny James, who spoke for his colleagues, said: “It is the collective request from the zone that the inflation-dependent model of wage adjustment be adopted thereby automatically raising the minimum wage for the workers whenever inflation seems high and thus eradicate the struggle for a new wage every five years, as obtained in the developed world.”

Northwest NLC proposes N485,000

The NLC in the Northwest proposed N485,000 per month.

Kano Chairman, Kabir Inuwa, said: “It is imperative to propose a new minimum wage that reflects the cost of living and ensures a decent standard of living for workers.

“The proposed new minimum wage per month should be determined through a comprehensive assessment of the current economic conditions, inflation rates, and the basic needs of workers and their families.

“The congress believes that for any minimum wage to achieve its purpose, it must reflect the realities of the economic situation and accordingly asses the least income that would be sufficient for the survival of a family of six.”

Katsina Governor, Dikko Radda, represented by the Commissioner of Information, Dr Bala Zango, said the state would abide by whatever wage is decided.

He said the state paid N5billion as death benefits in addition to disbursing N700million loans to the workers.

“Katsina government has a good working relationship with the workers.

“We have been paying salaries and other allowances as and when due,” Zango said.
March 8, 2024
Govt takes minimum wage talks to Nigerians in zones
- Private sector players, others to give imput in Lagos, Abuja, Sokoto, Kano, Uyo, Yola
Ongoing talks on the new national minimum wage will take a break from the boardroom.

On Thursday, the discussions will be taken to the public for the contribution of professionals and other Nigerians.

Six cities across the geo-political zones will host discussions to enable Nigerians from all walks of life to contribute to the proposal.

The current minimum wage is N30,000, which went into effect in April 2019.

The Federal Government in January constituted a 37-member Tripartite Committee to negotiate and agree on the new minimum wage.

The committee is made up of federal and state officials as well as private sector players.

Thursday’s discussion will take place in Yola, Northeast; Kano, Northwest; Abuja, Northcentral; Uyo, Southsouth; Enugu, Southeast, and Lagos, Southwest.

Ministry of Finance said yesterday that the essence of the meetings is to gather diverse perspectives and recommendations.

The Southwest zonal public hearing will be held in Lagos at the LTV Blue Roof Arena in Ikeja.

It will be chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun.

Expected at the event are government officials, business leaders, labour union leaders, and the public.

A diverse panel will lead the discussions.

Among them is Osun State Governor Adeleke Ademola (representing state governments).

Adeleke is a representative of the governors on the minimum wage tripartite committee.

Employers will be represented by Omo-Lamai Grace (manufacturers association) and Muhammed Nura (Small and Medium Enterprises).

Labour will be represented by Adeyanju Adewale (Nigeria Labour Congress) and Shuaibu Afusatu (Trade Union Congress).

They will be joined by Minister of State Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.

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The Tripartite Committee will submit a recommendation on the proposed minimum wage.

The minimum wage was reviewed from N18,000 to N30,000 on April 18, 2019, and signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari into law.

The reviewed wage is expected to take effect on April 1, 2024.

Following the removal of subsidy on petroleum products, labour has been calling for a wage increase.

One of the demands of labour is an upward review of the national wage to N200,000.

It has, however, said its proposal would be influenced by the “country’s inflation figure and present realities.”

Onyejeocha said the committee has so far held two meetings and discussions are ongoing.

TUC President, Festus Osifo, said the tripartite committee was broken into sub-committees with each given specific assignments.

The reports of the sub-committees will be submitted to the larger house for deliberation.

By its tripartite nature, the committee is made up of persons from Labour unions, the public sector (federal and state governments) and the private sector made up of the largest private employer group, the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME).
March 5, 2024
For minimum trouble

• The quest for a living wage is what is at stake

Minimum wage is one of the wracking questions of the day as the country, with the Bola Tinubu administration, tackles inflation and foreign exchange puzzle. It is not whether we want a new wage for workers, both in public and private spheres, but what that wage could be and whether we can afford it. It is living wage.

The crisis is emphasised by the lingering inability of some state governments to pay the last wage agreement between governments and organised labour in October, 2019. It is relatively easy to peg the minimum wage, but the real problem often is to understand that the minimum wage implies payments of wages in grades above the least-paid. That means the higher it goes, the hotter it becomes for both the Federal Government and the private sector.

What has happened over the years is that workers in states have come to resign themselves to a bad choice in which they either accept what is possible, which is the old pay, or the fantasy of new pay that the employer will turn into promissory note.

In his maiden address this year, President Tinubu promised to review the wages in a note of inevitability. Since last year, though, the organised labour has been fulminating and has embarked on strikes of paralytic consequences over the effects of the removal of fuel subsidies and the collapsing of the exchange rates.

About a month after the President’s speech, Vice President Kashim Shettima inaugurated a 37-person tripartite committee comprising the Federal Government, the private sector and the organised labour. Such committees tend to raise both hope and anxieties. Hope because it implies the Federal Government has demonstrated action. Anxiety because it is an opportunity for organised labour to huff and puff and grandstand. It is understandable; too, that such committees tend to defray tension and stir cynics and critics to think it is the government’s way of kicking the can down the road and buy time.

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Whatever the case, the Federal Government, with the voice of Idris Mohammed, Minister of Information, has said the present template of wages ends in April when the new one kicks in. That shows perhaps why Vice President Shettima called for the committee to work in earnest speed to ensure that its work kickstarts a new berth for Nigerian workers.

The 2024 budget seems to have anticipated a new structure of wages with N24.66 trillion allocated to salaries, overheads and pensions for 2024 to 2026. How this will fit into the committee recommendations is keenly awaited.

Some elements of labour have started to ratchet up expectations by asserting that N200,000 is too small as minimum wage. It may be so. But can companies that even barely pay N30,000 afford it? Can the Federal Government afford it? A minimum wage of that level would make quite a number of people to earn over a million naira a month. Is that not open sesame for inflation? The state governments may see it as mere promise.

The cost of living is indeed challenging today. Matters are not helped by politicians who politicise virtually everything in the country, like the politically motivated cost-of-living protest in Minna, Niger State, on Monday. There is an urgent need for the Federal Government to quickly sort out the confusion surrounding the humanitarian ministry to enable the much-ballyhooed palliatives become reality in homes across the country.

The promise to turn the tap of local refineries is making some impatient because of shifts in launch dates of both the Dangote one in Lagos and the Federal Government one in Port Harcourt.

It is heartening though that we are not in a state where the government is stalling and making labour into a boiling plate.

February 7, 2024
Why we are proposing N400,000 minimum wage – Labour

In anticipation of talks on a new national minimum wage, the labour union has suggested a $300 (N436,500) minimum salary for Nigerian workers.

This suggestion was made by Comrade Benjamin Anthony, the chairman of the Trade Union Side of the Joint Meeting of the National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), at Tuesday’s 2023 Separate and Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council sessions in Goshen City, Nasarawa state.

The union contended that the high exchange rate and the sudden elimination of fuel subsidies had degraded the country’s existing N30,000 minimum salary, making it more expensive to live in the nation.

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Anthony, who was represented by Comrade Boma Mohammed, the secretary of the union, expressed disapproval of the federal government’s recent salary payment delays to employees, stating that such a practice must be reversed to prevent the already intolerable suffering in the country from happening again.

He said: “In light of the above, Labour has proposed a Living Wage of $300 (N436,500) for Nigerian Workers. This is due to the fall in the value of our currency, today if you carry N100,000 to the market you will come back with a leather bag of items.

“We call on the government to immediately pay the arrears of the N35,000 wage award along with the current and expedited action on the process of getting a new living wage to bring succour to the working class people.”

January 31, 2024