Minimum Wage: ‘Nigerian Workers Should Not Be Reduced to Beggars,’ NLC Warns Governors

In a strong statement, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asserted that Nigerian workers will not be treated as beggars. The NLC has emphasized that state governors do not have the authority to unilaterally determine the minimum wage for workers.

Benson Upah, Head of Information and Public Affairs at the NLC, criticized the governors’ approach to wage determination as dictatorial. Upah highlighted that the national minimum wage is a collectively agreed standard aimed at ensuring a basic standard of living for all workers in Nigeria.

Upah clarified that the minimum wage should not be conflated with the individual pay structures of states, which already reflect their specific financial situations.

“The concept of a national minimum wage represents a national wage floor, a baseline below which no worker should be paid,” Upah stated. “This double standard pits a few privileged individuals against the majority poor, which should concern anyone who loves this country.”

He further argued that allowing numerous companies and organizations to set their own wages would lead to exploitation, a situation that mirrors the governors’ current stance. While companies may offer different salaries, they are still bound by the national wage floor, and the same principle should apply to state governments.

“Nigerian workers should not be reduced to beggars! Enough is enough,” Upah declared, underscoring the NLC’s commitment to protecting workers’ rights.