Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, said State Governors can afford to pay the proposed minimum wage of N615,000 if they prioritise their spending.
Gatekeepers News reports that this proposal was made by the organised labour amidst ongoing negotiations between Federal and State Governments and organised labour on the minimum wage issue.
Ajaero, in a statement during an interview with Channels Tetelevision mentioned that the proposed amount of N615,000 is the most realistic given the country’s high inflation rate.
The NLC considered various factors such as transportation, housing, and feeding before arriving at this sum.
In 2019, the previous administration of Muhammadu Buhari had increased the national minimum wage to N30,000. However, some States were slow to implement this increment.
“If you are talking about being realistic, the N615,000 demand is the most realistic. Being realistic is not about slave wage,” Ajaero said.
“However, N30,000 is big money if inflation is brought down, and at a single digit.
“Look at the indices that create inflation. If you check them, you can talk about being realistic. All other factors in the country are going high and wages remain constant.”
Asked if states can afford the N615,000 proposal, the NLC president averred that it is not about ability to pay but the priorities of states.
“I think we need to understand the issues of ability to pay and not getting the priority right,” he added.
“Most of the states that have shown willingness to pay the current minimum wage are not among those getting the highest revenue.
“During the time of Muhammadu Buhari, some states were declared not having enough money to pay and he released funds for them to pay.
“Those states still refused to pay. It is not the question of either the quantum of money that they have or not, it is what they decide to do with such money.
“If they get their priorities right, then a lot can happen.”
Meanwhile, organised labour has threatened to embark on a strike if a new minimum wage is not announced before May 31, 2024.
