After what many described as an unglorified back and forth involving the agreement on the new minimum wage, the federal government finally agreed with the organized labour last year on the payment of 70,000 as new minimum wage in the country.
However, while the total implementation of the wage remains a mirage, some states are yet to commence the payment even at the start of the New Year.
As Nigerians continue to grapple with the economic hardship resulting from record high inflation and the devastating impact of new economic reforms on their lives, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has vowed to force the hand of the federal government.
Top on their grouse list is the insignificance of the current wage which a good number of states in Nigeria are completely disenchanted to pay.
After the latest trends in Nigeria, as far as the inflation is concerned, could a wage review be a possibility?
Recall that in January 2024, the federal government inaugurated a 37-member tripartite committee to review the National Minimum Wage. After a series of meetings and deliberations, President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, July 18, approved N70,000 as the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
However months after, many Nigerians are calling for review of the wage since they know where the shoe pinches the most.
If the current stalemated wage won’t take anyone home, wouldn’t it be most sensible to review what’s on the table?
However, this stance simply suggests the possibility of yet another impasse with the federal government especially when one recalls how long and hard it took to birth the existing wage figure.
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero had declared that the present minimum wage of workers in the country is a starving wage and the need for a review can never be overstated.
Speaking at a recent public hearing on the new national minimum wage, the labour union boss noted that the present reality of the country has made it impossible for Nigeria workers to meet up their responsibilities.
Who else would then disagree with the NLC boss who understands the pains of Nigerian workers better?
Accentuating the point, the president of the trade union congress, festus osifo said a careful review was expedient to balance the work life and economic realities of Nigerian Workers.
An interested party, Oluwaseyi Akanbi asked the organized labour to intensify their consultations and refuse to treat whats on hand with kid gloves.
According to him, the 70,000 Naira is not enough to revive the dying morale and productivity of workers due to the severe inflation.
The history of wage reviews goes back as early as 1959 in Nigeria. From 1981 to 2018, Nigeria’s minimum wage changed invariably. In 2000, it was increased to N5,500. In 2011, President Goodluck Jonathan signed a new National Minimum Wage into law. The then law increased the minimum wage from N7,500 to N18,000.
So if recent trends are to be taken into consideration, Nigeria is not new to wage review.
