The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and federal government workers have both requested for an urgent review of the national N70000 minimum wage, stressing its unsustainability.
In separate interviews, the labour unions and workers told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, the N70,000 minimum wage is not enough to cater for rising costs of food, transportation, housing, and other essential services.
Recall, in July 2024 President Bola Tinubu signed the new National Minimum Wage Bill into law, raising the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000.
The amended law applies to the entire country, including the federal government, states, local governments, and the private sector.
Following the new wage bill, States like, Imo increased the minimum wage from N70,000 to N104,000, Lagos approved N85,000, with a promise to further raise it to N100,000 in 2025, Rivers, N85,000, Bayelsa, Niger, Enugu, and Akwa Ibom states approved N80,000 for their workers.
While Ogun and Delta states agreed to pay N77,000 minimum wage, Benue and Osun states raised the wage to N75,000, and Ondo State implemented N73,000.
Mr. Benson Upah, the Acting General Secretary of the NLC, told NAN on Sunday in Abuja that due to high inflation, many workers unable to meet basic needs with the N70,000.
Upah said,
“The truth is that N70,000 is not sustainable under the present economic situation.
“Workers are under immense pressure, and unless the government responds quickly, the crisis of survival will only worsen.
“We have since engaged the Federal Government on this matter at different times and fora,”.
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