BREAKING: Nigeria Labour Congress Proposes Fresh Minimum Wage Demand

Organized Labour in Nigeria has made a bold new proposal for the national minimum wage, setting it at N615,000 monthly to help workers manage the soaring cost of living and economic challenges in the country.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) disclosed this significant increase from the current N30,000 during an interview with Channels Television.

This new demand comes after deliberations between the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), reflecting the urgent need for wage adjustments amidst Nigeria’s escalating inflation, which was recorded at 31.70% as of February 2024.

The labour unions argue that the existing minimum wage is insufficient for the average Nigerian worker’s welfare, pointing out that the economic strain has been exacerbated by some state governors failing to comply with the existing wage structure, which is set to expire in April under the five-year review clause of the Minimum Wage Act of 2019.

Earlier this year, the Federal Government established a 37-member Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage tasked with recommending a revised wage that aligns with the present economic realities. Initially, the NLC had suggested an increase to N1 million citing severe inflationary pressures that have plunged many into poverty. Meanwhile, the TUC had proposed N447,000. However, in a consolidated position, both unions have now aligned on the N615,000 figure.

The revised proposal is grounded in the belief that state governments are capable of meeting these new wage demands given the increased monthly revenue allocations from the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC)