Labour Fumes, Set To Battle FG Over Minimum Wage Implementation

Labour unions in Nigeria are reportedly warming up for a possible confrontation with the federal and state governments over the lack of progress on a new minimum wage for public sector workers.

The unions have indicated that they could not rule out industrial actions.

Their anger is not unconnected with the failure of the Federal Government to constitute a committee to negotiate the new minimum wage.

The federal Government has yet to name its representatives whereas the labour unions have expressed readiness to begin the talks as their negotiators are on standby.

The rising inflation in the country has led to a high cost of living as prices of goods and services continue to skyrocket, thereby decimating the purchasing power of an average Nigerian.

This has made the labour unions agitate for a drastic review of the existing wage scale for workers.

Recalls The Punch had recently reported that in June 2023, workers and some labour leaders demanded that the minimum wage be increased from N30,000 to N250,000. The amount was later adjusted to N200,000 monthly.

According to the Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Chris Onyeka, he noted that many workers could no longer afford their rent, or pay their children’s school fees.

He also lamented that with the increase in the cost of transportation by almost 300 per cent, many civil servants were trekking to work.

After several years of negotiations between Labour and the government, the minimum wage was reviewed from N18,000 to N30,000 on April 18, 2019.

The Federal Government also stressed that governors of the 36 states of the federation should pay the new minimum wage of N30,000.

However, to date, several states have yet to implement the law.