By Milcah Tanimu

The organized labor movement in Nigeria has firmly rejected the federal government’s proposals of ₦62,000 and ₦100,000 as the new minimum wage for workers, deeming these amounts insufficient. Chris Onyeka, the Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), referred to these proposals as “starvation wages” during an interview on Channels Television on Monday. Onyeka reiterated that labor’s demand remains at ₦250,000 as the living wage necessary for Nigerian workers.

He emphasized that labor’s position has never wavered from ₦250,000, arguing that this amount is a reasonable concession considering the current economic realities and the cost of living, including the prices of essential commodities. Onyeka pointed out that the federal government had been given a one-week ultimatum, which expires at midnight on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, to review its proposal. Should the government and the National Assembly fail to act on the demands, organized labor plans to meet and potentially resume their nationwide strike.

When asked about the potential response if the government sticks to the ₦62,000 proposal, Onyeka indicated that labor could resume their previously paused indefinite strike. The NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had initiated a nationwide strike last Monday to demand a new minimum wage and the reversal of recent electricity tariff hikes, arguing that the current ₦30,000 minimum wage is no longer viable due to inflationary pressures.

The strike was temporarily suspended for five days following a commitment from the federal government to resume negotiations. President Bola Tinubu had directed the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, to present the cost implications of a new minimum wage within two days and work towards an affordable wage agreement in collaboration with the organized private sector and sub-national entities. Despite these directives and ongoing discussions, no agreement was reached by the end of last week. Labor had reduced its demand from ₦494,000 to ₦250,000, while the government’s revised offer was only ₦62,000.

Both parties have submitted their reports to President Tinubu, who is expected to make a final decision and propose an executive bill to the National Assembly to enact a new minimum wage law.