Labour: Why we demanded N250,000 as minimum wage

Organised Labour has disclosed the reasons behind the demand for N250,000 as the new minimum wage for workers in the country.

The Star recalls that the Labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), on Monday, June 3, embarked on a nationwide strike after rejecting the federal government’s N60,000 offer as minimum wage.

The unions, on Tuesday, suspended the industrial action for one week to give room for further negotiations with the federal government after promising to increase the minimum wage from N60,000.

The government, on Friday, July 7, said it has offered the Labour N62,000 as the new national minimum wage, adding: “The Organised Private Sector and the federal government have agreed on N62,000 while the Organised Labour is asking for N250,000.”

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma said this while addressing journalists in Abuja.

He made this known after the 36 state governors in the country rejected the N60,000 minimum wage earlier proposed by the federal government.

FG offers Labour N62,000 new minimum wage

The governors, in a statement on Friday, said the N60,000 minimum wage is not sustainable, noting that it would force some states in the country to borrow to pay workers’ salaries if the new take-home pay is implemented.

However, TUC President Festus Osifo, while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Friday, said: “We felt that with the current economic hardship and the difficulty in the land, the sum of N250,000 should be what will be okay for the minimum wage.

“We are going to sign a report and forward this position to Mr President. This committee is to make recommendations to him.

“So we will forward it to him and Mr President will forward it to the National Assembly.

“We will keep pushing to ensure that we have a wage that stands the test of time in Nigeria.”

The Star