In a significant turn of events, the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) has openly opposed the government’s proposed 35% pay rise under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu. The rejection comes amidst heightened discussions regarding salary structures and minimum wage policies across various sectors.
Joe Ajaero, the president of the NLC, expressed firm opposition during an interview on a Channels TV programme, underscoring the urgency of addressing the issue of minimum wage.
He emphasized that the previous minimum wage of N30,000 had expired on April 18, prompting the need for immediate negotiations and implementation of a new minimum wage.
President Tinubu’s administration had recently announced a salary increase ranging from 25% to 35% for civil servants across six consolidated salary structures: Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS), Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS), Consolidated Para-military Salary Structure (CONPASS), Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure (CONICCS) and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS).
However, Ajaero highlighted the discrepancy between the proposed pay rise and the pressing demand for a higher minimum wage.
The NLC firmly advocates for a minimum wage of N615,000, emphasizing the necessity of fair compensation to uphold workers’ rights and improve their living standards.
Ajaero said, “We should be in the regime of new minimum wage as of today. Discussions were supposed to have been concluded.
“The federal government through the National Assembly legislated on it. But we saw that the discussion entered voice mail because the federal government refused to reconvene the meeting that was adjourned.
“I think the announcement now appears mischievous because there is no wage increase that government is announcing. For them to announce it now, it is an issue that we are worried about at the NLC and even at the TUC.”
Further highlighting that organized labor had agreed on N615,000 as the livable wage for civil servants, Ajaero said, “Living wage is such that will, at least keep you alive. It is not a wage that will make you poor and poorer. It is not a wage that will make you borrow to go to work. It is not a wage that will lead you to be in the hospital everyday because of malnutrition. For that living wage, we have tried to look at N615, 000.
“Let me give you a breakdown of how we arrived at that figure. We have housing and accommodation of N40,000. We asked for electricity of N20,000 — of course that was before the current tariff increase. Nobody can spend this amount currently. We have utility that is about N10,000. We looked at kerosene and gas that is about N25,000 to N35,000.
“We looked at food for a family of six, that is about N9,000 in a day. For 30 days, that is about N270,000. Look at medical, N50,000 provided there will be no surgery or whatever.
“For clothing, we looked at N20,000. For education, N50,000. I don’t know for those who tried to put their children in private school, they will not be able to cope with this amount. We also have sanitation of N10,000.
“I think where we have another bulk of the money is transportation. This is because the workers stay in the fringes and because of the cost of PMS, that amounted to N110,000.
“That brought the whole living wage to N615,000 and I want anyone to subject this to further investigation and find out whether there will be any savings when you pay somebody on this rate.”
The rejection by the NLC underscores the growing tension between labor unions and the government regarding wage policies and workers’ welfare.
With the Nigerian Labor Congress firmly rejecting President Tinubu’s proposed pay rise and demanding a significant increase in the minimum wage, the stage is set for intense negotiations and potential reforms in the country’s wage policies.
As stakeholders navigate this critical juncture, the welfare and rights of Nigerian workers remain at the forefront of the national agenda.