Workers express optimism ahead of minimum wage negotiation

 

Workers are optimistic as organized labour is set to begin minimum wage review negotiations with the Federal Government.

Workers are demanding a significant increase in the national minimum wage from N30,000, arguing that soaring inflation, which hit 28.9 per cent in December and the removal of the petrol subsidy in May 2023, had made the current minimum wage worthless.

In an exclusive interview with The Press, the Director-General of Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, Adewale Oyerinde, noted the substantial impact of inflation in the country had significantly diminished the disposable income of an average Nigerian worker.

“The far-reaching consequences of inflation on the disposable income of the average worker emphasises a broader economic challenge that warrants urgent attention.

“With prices on a continuous upswing, the true value of wages is eroded, resulting in a reduction of purchasing power for individuals already struggling with the rising cost of living,” Oyerinde said.

Vice President Kashim Shettima inaugurated the 37-member tripartite committee on the national minimum wage at the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja on Tuesday.

Shettima urged the committee, whose membership cuts across federal, and state governments, the private sector, and organised labour, to “speedily” arrive at a resolution and submit their reports early as the current N30,000 minimum wage would expire at the end of March 2024.

“This timely submission is crucial to ensure the emergence of a new minimum wage,” the Vice President noted.

A civil servant, who simply gave her name as Sade, said, “As the minimum wage negotiations draw near workers can’t wait because this dwindling economy has triggered prices of food and commodities to go up.

According to her, the amount she spends on transportation among other things is alarming. I hope the government will be considerate, especially about us the workers.

Another civil servant, who works with one of the Federal Government ministries in Lagos and identified herself as Tope, explained that workers’ hopes were high as the negotiation was getting closer because daily survival in the country was becoming unbearable.

 “The review of the minimum wage is coming at the right time when prices of food have extremely skyrocketed. Hopefully, the Nigeria Labour Congress would be able to negotiate well with the Federal Government this time,” Tope stated.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Director of Information at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, revealed that a committee comprising 37 members would be headed by the former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Bukar Aji..

The government last year approved a monthly wage of N35,000 for its workers until the implementation of the anticipated new minimum wage.

However, NLC and TUC had demanded that President Bola Tinubu fulfil his promise to pay a wage award of N35,000 to low cadre workers for the next six months to cushion the effect of the removal of the subsidy.

The Press gathered that the Federal Government had only paid the N35,000 for a month.

Employees in the Federal Civil Service disclosed that the government only paid the N35,000 wage for September.