In a decisive turn of events, the organized labour in Nigeria has firmly rejected the ₦62,000 minimum wage proposal put forth by the federal government, describing it as a “starvation wage.” The Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Chris Onyeka, speaking on Channels Television on Monday, emphasized that the proposed figure falls far below the living wage needed by Nigerian workers.
“We have never considered accepting ₦62,000 or any other wage that we know is below what we know can take Nigerian workers home,” said Onyeka. The labour union’s stance remained steadfast at ₦250,000 as the minimum wage, an amount they deemed necessary for workers to meet their basic needs in the current economic climate.
The deadline for the Federal Government to review its proposal was set for last Tuesday, June 4, 2024. With the grace period ending by midnight on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, organized labour warned of a potential nationwide industrial action if the demands of the workers are left unaddressed. Onyeka emphasized that if both the Federal Government and National Assembly fail to act promptly, discussions on the resumption of a nationwide strike will take place.
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The situation remains tense as Nigerian workers stand united in their demand for a fair and adequate minimum wage that reflects the realities of everyday expenses such as food items like rice, yam, and garri. As the deadline looms, the fate of negotiations between labour representatives and the government hangs in the balance.
