The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly opposed comments from state governors suggesting that each state should set its own minimum wage. The NLC labeled this idea as dictatorial and contrary to the principles underpinning the establishment of a national minimum wage in Nigeria.
“This notion is not only dictatorial but also undermines the very essence as well as the model adopted for creating a national minimum wage in Nigeria,” stated the NLC in a Friday announcement by Benson Upah, its Head of Information and Public Affairs.
Negotiations over a new minimum wage have been ongoing for months, involving labor unions, the government, and the private sector. The tripartite committee on the new minimum wage proposed N62,000, while organized labor has been pushing for N265,000. President Bola Tinubu has received the committee’s report and pledged to propose an amount that the country can afford. He is currently consulting with stakeholders before sending a bill to the National Assembly to enact the new minimum wage.
In a meeting earlier this week, the Southern Governors’ Forum argued against a uniform minimum wage, insisting that states should pay based on their financial capabilities. “The Forum discussed the minimum wage issues demanded by labor and unanimously agreed that the minimum wage should be reflective of the cost of living and ability to pay, and each state be allowed to negotiate their minimum wage,” the governors stated in a communique.
The NLC, however, has rejected the governors’ position, asserting that it poses a threat to the welfare of Nigerian workers and the national economy. The labor organization maintains that a national minimum wage is crucial for ensuring fair and equitable compensation for workers across the country, regardless of regional economic disparities.
As the debate continues, the outcome of these consultations and negotiations will significantly impact the financial well-being of Nigerian workers and the broader economic landscape.
