By Chijioke Okoronkwo
One of the resolutions at the just concluded National Conference that continues to attract reactions is the rejection of a proposal to increase the national minimum wage.
The Confab committee on Public Service had recommended the review of national minimum wage every five years to keep it in tune with cost of living and realities of the time.
A delegate from River, Chief Sergeant Awuse proposed an increase of the national minimum wage from N18, 000 to 40,000.
He said that going by the economic realities; N18, 000, “ is not a living wage’’ and asked his colleagues if any of them could survive with such meagre salary.
Mr Clement Mgbada, a delegate from the South East, said N18, 000 minimum was too paltry for public servants, adding that endemic corruption in the system was as a result of poor remuneration.
He also said that the issue of minimum wage should continue to be in the Exclusive List of the constitution.
In spite of the views expressed by some delegates on the need to increase the national minimum wage, when it was put to vote, an overwhelming majority of the delegates said ‘nay.’
Though the conference had submitted its reports, the rejection of hike of the national minimum wage has continued to elicit reactions from Nigerians of all walks of life.
They say that the issue should be revisited; stressing that salary should be based on cost of living index.
Mr Gerald Ukeni, the General Secretary, Nigeria Civil Service Union, said it was wise for any progressive economy to periodically review the salary of its workers.
Ukeni said that workers are always the ones affected by inflation; hike in house rents, hike in school fees and other adverse economic trends without a corresponding increment in their wages.
“Reviewing of workers’ wages every five years is a healthy thing for industrial peace and democracy; the wage that was implemented in 2011 is no more relevant going by the economic trend and price of goods. [eap_ad_1] “In Nigeria, there is price abuse; while the wage remains fixed, prices cannot be fixed because of the economy we run here.
“People fix prices for their commodities in whichever way they want; prices are not regulated by the forces of demand and supply.
“Immediately there is a wage increase, the landlord will skyrocket house rent; the market women will skyrocket prices of goods; so, it makes a mincemeat of the increment.’’
He said that as trade union members, they knew that workers were at the receiving end of stagnant wages, adding that it would be proper to review workers’ wages every three years in order to cushion the effect of rising inflation.
According to Ukeni, there is need to set up a committee of experts who will always be monitoring the economy and give out indices that can help for planning.
He however said that it was imperative for any economy to review its performance in terms of productivity and other economic factors before reviewing wages.
“In such economy, there must be productivity; there must be minimal corrupt practices; there must be a national consciousness and respect for the institutions.
“In Nigeria for instance, we cannot say that productivity is what it should be; we cannot say that corruption is less; so to do a review at the end of every three years will be difficult because the indices may not be there.’’
Besides wage increase, Ukeni said that providing facilities such as houses, good environment for workers and subsidising school fees in both public and private schools could reduce agitation for wage increase.
Ukeni said that in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, many workers struggle to pay for accommodation with their meagre salaries.
Mr Martins Oche, a civil servant, who commented on the upward review of the national minimum, said the rejection was unfair.
He said that they should have borrowed a leaf from countries that review their national minimum wage every three or five years.
On his part, the National Chairman, Progressives People Alliance (PPA), Mr Peter Ameh, faulted the rejection of increase in the national minimum wage.
The national chairman said the welfare of Nigerian workers should be accorded priority, because of their enormous contributions to national development.
