The government’s proposal was made during the meeting, which the labor unions eventually exited due to their disagreement with the suggested amount. A labour leader present at the meeting voiced his disappointment, stating, “What the government has presented to us is a wage reduction. This government is not serious about giving workers a living wage.”
President Bola Tinubu had previously promised a living wage to workers during the May Day celebration, assuring them that their days of waiting for fair compensation were over. In contrast to the government’s proposal, the NLC and TUC had suggested a minimum wage of N615,000, citing the high cost of living as justification.
Additionally, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) presented N54,000 as the new minimum wage, highlighting that the least-paid worker in the private sector earned N78,000. Shehu Sani expressed his views on the matter, stating, “48k minimum wage is an Almajiri offer to Labour, but quarter bread is better than none.”
The disparity between the proposed minimum wages by the government and the labor unions reflects the ongoing struggle to establish a fair and livable wage for public service workers in Nigeria. The divergent viewpoints underscore the challenges in reaching a consensus that adequately addresses workers’ needs amidst the country’s economic realities.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
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