ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – Ahead of negotiation on the new national minimum wage, the organized labour has proposed a Living Minimum Wage of $300 (N436,500) for Nigerian Workers.
It argued that the current minimum wage of N30,000 has since been eroded by the high exchange rate coupled with the abrupt removal of fuel subsidy which has translated into the high cost of living in the Country hence the demand for a new wage.
Chairman, Trade Union Side, Joint Meeting of the National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Comrade Benjamin Anthony, presented the position of organized labour on Tuesday at the 2023 meetings of the Separate and Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council held at Goshen City, Nasarawa state.
Anthony who was represented by the Secretary of the union, Comrade Boma Mohammed also frowned at the recent delays in payment fof salaries by the Federal Government to workers, saying the trend must be stopped and avert the repeat of such as the suffering in the land is already unbearable.
“There is no gainsaying that the cost of a bag of rice is far more than the so-called Minimum Wage, and to worsen the situation, the Government is not prompt in the payment of the collectively and freely agreed N35,000 Wage award.
“In light of the above, Labour has proposed a Living Wage of $300 (N436,500) for Nigerian Workers. This is due to the fall in the value of our currency, today if you carry N100,000 to the market you will come back with a leather bag of items.
“We call on Government to immediately pay the arrears of the N35,000 wage award along with the current and expedited action on the process of getting a new living wage to bring succour to the working class people.”
