Labour Adjusts Minimum Wage Request to N500,000 Amidst Ongoing Public Hearings

As the zonal public hearings on the new wage structure kick off today across Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, and Abuja, there are emerging indications that organized labour may push for a minimum wage of N500,000. The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, initially hinted at a possible demand of up to N1 million in response to ongoing inflation.

However, a top official of the NLC has revealed that, based on proposals from state chapters, the organized labour might settle for N500,000 during the ongoing public hearings. These hearings, taking place simultaneously in all six geopolitical zones, aim to gather input from various stakeholders, including state governors, ministers, civil society groups, and the private sector.

The zonal meetings are crucial in determining the new minimum wage, especially as the current N30,000 minimum wage is set to expire on April 1. The 37-member panel, inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu on January 30, is expected to recommend a new national minimum wage by this deadline.

President Ajaero will chair the meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, while the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, will preside over the South-West hearing in Lagos. The panel comprises representatives from federal and state governments, the private sector, and labor.

Despite the ongoing discussions, the tripartite committee has not yet settled on a specific figure for the minimum wage. A top NLC official, speaking anonymously, mentioned that the proposed N500,000 is based on a cost-of-living analysis carried out in states, which indicates a higher amount when inflated inconsistencies are taken into account.

State chapters of the Trade Union Congress in Ogun and Katsina have advocated for retaining the minimum wage on the exclusive legislative list. They emphasize compliance with International Labour Organisation conventions on labor remuneration.

As the hearings progress, various state labor leaders have voiced their expectations and demands, emphasizing the importance of uniformity in wages and urging timely implementation.