Democracy Day: NLC reiterates demand for N250,000 national minimum wage

As Nigeria marks Democracy Day, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has reiterated its demand for a new National Minimum Wage of N250,000.

The Acting President of NLC, Adewale Adeyanju, made this clear in a statement responding to President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day speech on Wednesday in Abuja.

The Federal Government had previously proposed N62,000 as the new national minimum wage at the end of a tripartite committee meeting involving the Organized Private Sector (OPS). However, the NLC remains firm on its initial demand.

“Our demand still remains N250,000 only, and we have not been given any compelling reasons to change this position, which we consider a great concession by Nigerian workers during the tripartite negotiation process,” Adeyanju stated.

He expressed surprise at President Tinubu’s comments suggesting there was an agreement on the new wage, clarifying that no such agreement had been reached with the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

“We believe that he may have been misled into believing that there was an agreement with the NLC and TUC.

There was none, and it is important that we let the President, Nigerians, and other national stakeholders understand this immediately to avoid a mix-up in the ongoing conversation around the national minimum wage,” he said.

Adeyanju also noted that the union had not seen a copy of the document submitted to President Tinubu and would not accept any altered document.

He reaffirmed the union’s belief that the president would prepare an Executive Bill reflecting the true demands of Nigerian workers.

“We think that this is an opportunity for him to demonstrate his love for Nigerian workers and masses by shunning the advice of those whose intentions are focused on hurting the poor and struggling workers of Nigeria,” he said.

The NLC President alleged that the union leaders had faced intimidation and harassment during the negotiations, with armed soldiers surrounding them and a campaign of media propaganda against the trade unions by senior government officials.

“We were threatened severally by his operatives, perhaps without his consent. It is important that Mr. President understands this,” Adeyanju added.

He also highlighted that the NLC had not agreed on a five-year duration for the Minimum Wage Act, although they acknowledged the president’s mention of five years or less.

The union agreed that inflation should be pegged at a level to determine the minimum wage.

“We reiterate that it will be extremely difficult for Nigerian workers to accept any national minimum wage figure that approximates a starvation wage.

We seek justice, equity, and fairness for all Nigerians,” he concluded.

Adeyanju emphasized that this is an opportunity for President Tinubu to demonstrate that he listens to Nigerians, as he promised, by ensuring a Living Wage for Nigerian workers.