By Milcah Tanimu
Joe Ajaero, the National President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), has provided insights into the rationale behind the NLC’s proposal of N615,000 as the minimum wage to the federal government. During a courtesy visit to The Nation headquarters in Lagos, Ajaero highlighted that prevailing economic conditions in the country informed this decision.
Ajaero emphasized that the proposal aims to improve the living standards of workers, despite some misconceptions surrounding the figure. He explained that the NLC considered various factors, including the cost of food, healthcare, education, and other essential utilities, in arriving at the proposed minimum wage.
He acknowledged the challenges posed by rising tariffs and the removal of subsidies, factors that have further exacerbated the economic strain on workers. Ajaero clarified that the initial proposal did not account for expenses such as communication and offerings, underscoring the NLC’s commitment to transparently addressing the needs of Nigerian workers.
While acknowledging the necessity of clarity and understanding regarding the proposed minimum wage, Ajaero highlighted the impact of subsidy removal on the overall economic landscape. He suggested that without subsidy removal, the proposed minimum wage might have been significantly lower, underscoring the complex interplay of economic factors in determining wage standards.