Senate applauds labour unions for accepting N70,000 minimum wage

Diket Plang, chairman of the Senate Committee on Labour and Productivity (APC/Plateau Central), has praised the organized labour unions for agreeing to the federal government’s proposed minimum wage of N70,000. In a statement to journalists in Jos on Sunday, Plang commended the unions for their patriotism and their constructive approach throughout the negotiation process. He noted the unions’ commitment to a peaceful resolution during discussions and the eventual agreement. Plang also highlighted his personal involvement in extensive discussions with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). He facilitated multiple meetings between the legislative branch and the trade unions to achieve a consensus on the matter. “I must thank them because they have a very patriotic approach to this issue. They were never violent at all. “Our relationship is like a family, where dependents and children ask the father for more resources. “The father, who loves the children, will look at them compassionately and explain his limitations. “The ability to agree on a particular amount was commendable and shows understanding within the family. “We must be careful to ensure that the federal, state, and local governments all pay the new minimum,” he said. Plang urged organised labour to meet the minimum wage requirements. “May we also bring policies that favour the private sector so they can thrive, be productive, and be in a position to meet the minimum wage for our workers,” he said. 

Minimum Wage: NLC threatens one-month shutdown as lawmakers target fresh decision

Multiple Unions, Including Banks, Medical Staff, ASUP Join NLC Nationwide Strike

By Doris Isreal Ijeoma Ahead of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s planned Thursday meeting with leaders of organized labour, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened a one-month shutdown if the minimum wage is expunged from the Exclusive to Concurrent list in the Constitution by Nigerian lawmakers. NLC President, Joe Ajaero, gave the warning on Monday while addressing participants at the opening ceremony of the 2024 annual Rain School of the NLC in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Ajaero issued this warning against National Assembly members’ proposed decision to remove wages from the Exclusive to Concurrent list in the Constitution. He added that if National Assembly members proceed with the move to remove the minimum wage from the Exclusive list—a law that would allow each state governor to determine the minimum wage—he would mobilize labor and shut down Nigeria’s economy for a month. Although the National Assembly’s decision is yet to be made public, Ajaero said, “As we are here, a Joint Committee of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Judiciary are meeting. They have decided to remove section 34 from the Exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list so that the state governors can determine what to pay you and so that there will be no minimum wage again. “When they finish that meeting, they will collect minimum wage, I promise all of you that. The very moment the House of Representatives and the Senate come up with such a law that will not benefit Nigerian workers, they will be their drivers and gatemen, and there will be no movement for one month. “Comrades, I am putting you on standby. If that committee comes up with such a policy, for one month nobody should come out. They are the major threat to democracy in this country. Democracy is not all about starving and punishing people. That’s not the democracy we fought for. “They were not there when we fought for this democracy, and now they are trying to make laws to remove the minimum wage from the exclusive list. So, comrades, as I have talked to you here, I have talked to everybody. We are waiting for them to come up with such hypocritical laws. And from today, let them abolish the security vote,” he said. The development comes as the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, announced that President Tinubu will meet with organized labor leaders on Thursday to finalize a decision on the country’s minimum wage. This follows last Thursday’s decision on a harmonized minimum wage, which ended in a deadlock. Recall that the government had proposed a 62,000 naira minimum wage, while organized labor insisted on 250,000 naira. The National Minimum Wage Tripartite had earlier submitted the minimum wage proposal to the President. While the minimum wage impasse persists, Nigerians have continued to groan over hardship occasioned by the rising headline and food inflation, which stood at 34.19 percent and 40.87 percent, respectively, in June 2024.

New Minimum Wage:We Are Ready To Make Sacrifices, Pay ₦150,000-Sen Wadada tells Tinubu

The lawmaker representing Nasarawa West zone, Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, has called on President Bola Tinubu to approve at least ₦150,000 as the new national minimum wage. Wadda made the call while speaking with newsmen in the Keffi local government area (LGA) of Nassarawa State. The Social Democratic Party of Nigeria (SDP) chieftain asserted that the economic situation in the country is the reason he is making such a demand. His words: “I have expressed my opinion in the past on the issue, and I am going to reiterate it here. “For me as a person, the minimum a worker should earn is N150,000, looking at the realities of today.” Speaking further, Wadada stated that he and other lawmakers were willing to make sacrifices in terms of reduction of their remunerations and allowances just to ensure Nigerian workers earned decent monthly salaries. He added: “At worst, it should be higher than what the government is currently offering.” Nigerian workers, under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) are waiting on the federal government and national assembly to meet their demand on the proposed minimum wage. It is yet to be seen if the government and labour will come to an agreement soon.

Governor Obaseki Announces N70, 000 New Minimum Wage

The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has approved a new minimum wage of N70,000 for civil servants in the state. The governor revealed this while commissioning the new Labour House in Edo state on Monday. According to him, the new wage comes into effect on May 1st, 2024. This is as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) battles the Federal Government over increasing the minimum wage to match increasing national inflation and skyrocketing food inflation. The inflation rate for March 2024 hit 33.2 per cent from 31.70 per cent in February, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Food inflation also rose to 31.7 per cent in March from 30 per cent in February.

Why New Minimum Wage May Be N1 Million – NLC President Ajaero

The National Labour Congress (NLC) has indicated that its minimum wage demands might increase to N1 million per month if economic challenges persist.  NLC President Joe Ajaero mentioned during an interview on Arise TV that worsening inflation and currency depreciation are significant factors contributing to this potential escalation. He emphasized that the demand for a higher wage is closely tied to economic conditions, citing the impact of rising exchange rates and the cost of living, including the soaring prices of essential items like rice.  He said: “This N1 million may be relevant if the value of the Naira continues to depreciate; if the inflation continues to depreciate. The demand of Labour is equally dependent on what is happening in the society. “You will remember that by the time we were contemplating N200,000, the exchange rate was about N900. As we talk today, the exchange rate is about N1,400 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 it that our demand will be based on the cost of living index. Ajaero’s remarks come amid looming strike threats as organized labour are engaging in discussions with the federal government regarding previous agreements and wage issues.