States Refuse Labour’s Latest Minimum Wage Demands

States yesterday kicked against Labour’s minimum wage demands, saying they were not realistic.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is proposing N709,000 while the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) is recommending N447,000 as the new minimum wage for workers.

But states are proposing between N45,000 and N70,000.

The NLC and TUC chapters in the six Northeast states recommended a minimum of N560,000 per month.

In the Southeast, they proposed N540,000 per month.

Labour in the Southwest suggested N794,000 as the minimum wage.

The Southsouth NLC zonal chapters proposed at least N850,000 per month.


In the Northwest, Labour proposed N485,000 per month.

The proposals were presented when six cities across the six geo-political zones hosted discussions on the new minimum wage.

The current minimum wage is N30,000, which went into effect in April 2019.

The Federal Government in January constituted a 37-member Tripartite Committee to negotiate and agree on the new minimum wage due to take effect this year.

The tripartite panel’s sitting is currently ongoing in Abuja.

The Federal Government fixed yesterday’s public hearings to get the input of the generality of the people, Labour and pressure groups, and religious and business leaders.

Yesterday’s discussions were held in Yola, Northeast; Kano, Northwest; Abuja, Northcentral; Uyo, Southsouth; Enugu, Southeast, and Lagos, Southwest.

Minister of Finance/the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, who chaired the Lagos event, restated the Federal Government’s commitment to a new minimum wage.

Speaking at the Southwest zonal public hearing held at the LTV Blue Roof Arena in Ikeja, Edun promised workers “a living wage that is fair and sustainable”.

According to Sessi, compared to other African countries, Nigeria’s national minimum wage of N30,000 is nothing to write home about.

She said the current minimum wage of N30,000 monthly is equivalent to $40.8; compared to Seychelles $465.4; Libya $321.83; Morocco $314.7; Gabon $270.5; and Equatorial Guinea $211.54.

Her position was backed by Prof. Victor Adejumo of the Obafemi Awolowo University, who represented the Congress of University Academics (CONUA).

He said a minimum of N600,000 monthly would be acceptable to CONUA.

Benjamin Olowojebutu, who spoke on behalf of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), said his association proposed $300 or $400, which is over N600,000.

The Plateau State government, represented by its Permanent Secretary, Establishment and Labour Relations, proposed N60,000, N70,000 and N80,000 instead.

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, represented by the Head of Service of the State, Abigail Waya, urged the Tripartite Committee to allow his state to renegotiate minimum wage.

He said economic realities may not allow the state to pay a wage beyond its financial capability.

Niger State government said it was willing to pay any amount fixed by the committee.

Pensioners, represented by the Federal Civil Service Pensioners Union Chairman, Comrade Sunday Omezi, asked for 85 per cent of whatever figure the Tripartite Committee agreed.

TUC and NLC branches in the six Northeast states proposed N560,000.

They said the sum was arrived at after considering the prevailing economic situation.

Chairman of the NLC in Adamawa, Emmanuel Fashe, who spoke for his colleagues, recommended a bi-annual review of the minimum wage.

The state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), demanded N486,000 per month.

Its acting Chairman, Gambo Bupwadta, who presented the memorandum of the association, said the association conducted a painstaking assessment of the expenditures of average families.

These include feeding, medical needs, accommodation, transportation and education to arrive at the amount.

The state branch of the NMA backed the position of the NLC.

The Adamawa chapter of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) demanded N200,000.

The Muslim Council of Nigeria in the state asked for N75,000.