Tinubu’s FG Is Now Willing To Pay This Amount To Nigerian Workers As Minimum Wage, See Details
The Nigerian federal government, led. by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has declared that it can only afford to pay a minimum wage of N62, 000, rejecting the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC)’ s demand for a N250, 000 minimum wage. The government argues that the higher wage demand is unsustainable given the current economic realities.
Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to the president on information and strategy, criticized the labour unions’ demands as unrealistic and selfish. He emphasized that the government cannot allocate all its resources to meet the demands of a small fraction of the population, noting that less than 10 percent of Nigerians are affected by the minimum wage issue. Onanuga argued that most Nigerians are either self-employed or work in the private sector, and therefore, the labour unions’ demands do not represent the broader population.
Onanuga also pointed out that the proposed N62, 000 wage was arrived at after consultations with the private sector and other stakeholders, except for the labour unions who have refused to accept the offer. He urged the unions to reconsider their demands, warning that the government’s resources must be distributed to address various national needs, not just the wage demands of
public sector workers.
The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) expressed concerns that even the proposed N62, 000 minimum wage might strain the financial capabilities of local councils. This underscores the financial constraints faced by various levels of government in accommodating significant wage increases. Joe Ajaero, the NLC president, countered the government’s position, urging the administration to fulfill its promise of paying a living wage, which
he emphasized is crucial given the
current economic challenges faced by
Nigerians. He criticized the president’
s statement on Democracy Day,
calling on the government to prioritize
the welfare of workers.
Scooper
In an interview with The Punch, Onanuga reiterated that the government’s proposal is in line with economic realities and called on the unions to be realistic. He noted that the government has other financial obligations and cannot divert all resources to pay wages. Onanuga also highlighted the need for the unions to consider the broader implications of their demands on the national economy and the majority of Nigerians not directly affected by the minimum wage issue.
The chairman of the Tripartite Committee on national minimum wage, Goni Aji, also urged the labour unions to accept the federal government’ s offer. He stressed the importance of balancing wage demands with the economic realities facing the country, indicating that the N62, 000 proposal is a fair compromise considering the current fiscal constraints.
The ongoing negotiations highlight the tension between the need for fair wages and the government’ s capacity to meet such demands amidst broader economic challenges. The outcome will significantly impact the financial stability and social welfare of Nigerian workers.
