The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that the new minimum wage could potentially be negotiated to be in the range of N100,000 to N200,000 due to the escalating cost of living.
Although the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had planned a strike in response to the fuel subsidy removal, they postponed it after a meeting with government officials.
The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, clarified that the N35,000 wage award was not a new minimum wage which he said may be up to N200,000. He stressed that various factors, including inflation and cost of living, would influence the negotiation of a realistic minimum wage.
“So, it is not a minimum wage but it is a wage added to the minimum wage. So, should we in March, April, or before that time negotiate the new wage to be N100,000 or N200,000, it would be inscribed as minimum wage law which should be the law in existence,” he said.
The NLC chief emphasized that the N35,000 wage should not be seen as an addition to the existing country’s minimum wage of N30,000.
“Certain things would come into play when we discuss it – inflation, cost of living. Every other thing would come into it,” he added. “We would not go to ask for N65,000. We would go for a realistic amount because N65,000 is about $70 which is not up to minimum wage.”
According to him, for a new minimum wage to take effect, the National Assembly will play a crucial role.
“The minimum wage is a product of law. Until it is legislated in the National Assembly, it is not a minimum wage,” Ajaero argued.