Labour unions advocate for minimum wage exceeding half a million naira

As negotiations continue on the minimum wage, labour unions in the country have made a bold demand from the Federal Government, pushing for a monthly minimum wage of N615,000.

According to a member of the executive of one of the unions, who spoke with Sunday Punch, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) arrived at this figure after extensive consultations.

The source, a member of one of the sub-committees set up by the government to work on the new minimum wage, hinted that the wage might still increase, especially in light of the recent hike in electricity tariff.

President Bola Tinubu, through Vice President Kashim Shettima, established a 37-member panel on January 30 at the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja. Tasked with recommending a new national minimum wage, the panel’s membership cuts across federal and state governments, the private sector, and organised labour.

Regarding the feasibility of the May 1 deadline, the labour leader emphasized ongoing efforts to reach a resolution. With both the TUC and NLC presenting unified positions to the government, negotiations are poised to advance.

Moreover, the recent removal of the electricity tariff subsidy presents an opportunity for further discussions with the government. The new tariff increase, viewed as advantageous for negotiations, will be a key point of contention.

Stakeholders are prepared to leverage this development to advocate for a higher minimum wage, especially considering the unilateral imposition of the tariff removal by the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission, which disregarded stakeholders’ engagement as outlined in the Electricity Act.

The upcoming negotiations will mark a crucial phase in the quest for an increased minimum wage, with both labour unions and the government expected to present their respective positions and engage in meaningful dialogue to achieve a fair resolution.