FG Speaks On Paying ₦615,000 Monthly Minimum Wage Proposed By NLC

This online news platform recalls that the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, described the salary increment approved by the Federal Government as mischievous.

The statement of the NLP President came after the Federal Government had approved salary increments of 25 percent and 35 percent for the remaining six consolidated salary structures.

However, The NLP President said the last minimum wage of N30,000 expired on April 18.
Appearing on Channels Television, the NLC President said: “I think the announcement now appears mischievous because there is no wage increase that the government is announcing. For them to announce it now, is an issue that we are worried about at the NLC and even at the TUC.

“Living wage is such that will, at least keep you alive. It is not a wage that will make you poorer 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 every day because of malnutrition. For that living wage, we have tried to look at N615,000.”

Reacting to the demand of the NLP President in a chat with The Punch, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the Federal Government cannot pay the proposed minimum wage demanded by the labour unions.The presidential aide added that the parties must agree on an amount feasible for the government and the private sector to pay or the current negotiation impasse would continue.

He said, “It is an open affair. The NLC President, Ajaero, told the public today they were asking for N615,000 per month as minimum wage. So, where will the money come from? Do we have that kind of money to pay? The government cannot afford any minimum wage that it cannot pay.

“So, the President is hoping that maybe at their next meeting, everybody will come to some reasonable agreement that would reflect what the government and the private sector can pay.”