Labour leaders, yesterday, insisted that a minimum wage less than the N52,200 demanded by the NLC would not reduce the suffering of the people
In an interview with newsmen in Lagos, the leaders said the N30,000 minimum wage being canvassed by the House of Representative was not acceptable. A bill by the House of Representatives seeking N30,000 minimum wage has passed through the second reading. NLC, in its New Year message to Nigerians, demanded the implementation of a N52,200 minimum wage for civil servants.
The congress noted that the current N7,500 minimum wage was no longer realistic in view of the high cost of living, adding that Nigerian workers were least paid worldwide.
Joe Ajaero, general secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), said that the proposed minimum wage could barely meet the needs of a family much less of N30,000.
“Take the cost of living index for example, a bag of rice is not less than N8,000, a moderate flat, N10,000. What about school fees for four children and transportation? You will see that this amount is not realistic,” Ajaero argued.
He said workers were feeling the effects of the world economic meltdown more than the government.
, “therefore, the government should make efforts to ameliorate the pains of the people”.
The union scribe regretted that state governments were always reluctant to implement minimum wages, and urged them to resist the temptation not to implement the N52,200 minimum wage.
“If the states don’t want to pay, it does not mean they don’t have the money, labour will fight any state which refuses to pay the money when approved,” Ajero warned.
Abiodun Aremu, convener of the United Action for Democracy, also said that workers deserved the proposed minimum wage, adding that it would be unjust for the government to claim it could not pay it.
“When the political office holders were increasing their salaries, there was money to be paid and there was no question of inflation raised.
“However, when workers legitimately asked for their rights, people started giving excuses; if we consider the inflationary trend, workers deserve to be better paid,” he added.