NLC: How we arrived at N615,000 new minimum wage demand

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says the N615,000 demand as the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers was based on the current basic cost of living for a family of four.

The NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, made this known in a statement issued on Thursday, May 2, 2024.

Ajaero said the clarification became necessary following reactions that trailed the demand of N615,000 by the Organised Labour from the current minimum wage of N30,000.

He noted that N615,000 demanded by the labour was reached after carrying out intensive research on the amount spent by Nigerians on basic amenities from the grassroots.

A table drawn to show how the N615,000 was reached showed that housing/accommodation was pegged at 40,000; electricity N20,000; utility water N10,000; kerosene/gas N35,000; and food N9,000 for 30 days totalling N270,000.

Others include medical N50,000; clothing N20,000; education N50,000; sanitation N10,000; and transportation N110,000.

The NLC President stated: “Our research was based on a family with both parents alive and four children without the burden of having other dependents with them.

NLC rejects FG’s 35% pay increase, demands N615,000 living wage

“A questionnaire was designed and sent to all the State Councils of NLC and TUC from where these questionnaires were sent to our members in all the Local government areas in the country to gather the monthly cost of living for the average family as described above.

“However, it should also be noted that we have not included things like expenditure on calls and data, offerings in churches and Mosques, community dues, entertainment, savings and Security etc. These are therefore just for the bare necessities.

“It should be noted that we arrived at this figure before the increase in electricity tariff and the recent scarcity of Petrol across the nation leading to the appearance of long queues with attendant increased transport fares. Any figure below this amount becomes a starvation wage and condemns Nigerian workers and their families to perpetual poverty.

“We have to remember that the old one having expired on the 18th day of April 2024, a new one is expected to have come into effect on the 19th day of April 2024.

“However, because of government’s inability to comply with the Law that demanded for negotiations for a new national minimum wage to have begun six months before the expiration of the existing one, concluding the new one has become unfortunately delayed.

“We are sure that our social partners would see our demonstration of understanding, sacrifice and reasonableness in our demands thus accept this figure without much delay.

“We also enjoin all well-meaning Nigerians to implore the Government and Employers to meet our demands for the sake of justice, equity and national development.”

The Star