AGS NEWS – The organised labour has firmly rejected the Nigerian federal government’s proposed minimum wage of ₦62,000 or ₦100,000 for workers.

In an interview on Channels Television, Chris Onyeka, Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), called the proposals “starvation wages” and reiterated the labour’s demand for a ₦250,000 living wage.

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“We will not accept ₦62,000 or any amount that cannot sustain Nigerian workers. Our demand remains ₦250,000,” Onyeka stated.

Onyeka also mentioned the one-week grace period given to the government, which ends on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. If the government fails to act, organised labour will consider resuming nationwide industrial action.

“The Federal Government and the National Assembly must act on our demand. If there is no tangible response by the deadline, we will decide on our next steps,” Onyeka warned.

The labour unions previously embarked on a nationwide strike demanding a new minimum wage and the reversal of the electricity tariff hike, citing that the current ₦30,000 minimum wage is insufficient.

The strike was suspended for five days after an agreement to resume negotiations.

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President Tinubu directed the Finance Minister to present cost implications for a new minimum wage and work with the private sector to achieve a feasible wage award.

Despite ongoing talks, no agreement has been reached, and the government’s latest offer of ₦62,000 remains far below labour’s demand.

Both sides await the President’s decision to send a new minimum wage bill to the National Assembly.