Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has called on the federal and state governments to emulate Imo state’s decision to raise workers’ minimum wage.
Gatekeepers News reports that speaking in Abuja on Thursday during the seventh quadrennial delegates’ conference of the National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW), themed “Building trade unions’ future through strategic organising and investments”, Ajaero hailed Governor Hope Uzodimma’s recent wage adjustments.
Governor Uzodimma had approved an increase in Imo’s minimum wage from ₦76,000 to ₦104,000. He also raised the pay of doctors from ₦215,000 to ₦503,000, and that of tertiary institution tutors from ₦119,000 to ₦222,000.
Describing the development as “real and commendable,” Ajaero said, “So many people were asking me, is this real? I said, this is a report from Imo state so far. I have reached out to him. Although he told me about it before now. It is real. That is the highest and to a very large extent, it is commendable.”
He further explained that while the federal government previously argued that higher wages could destabilise the system, Imo’s example showed otherwise.
Ajaero said, “But if the states have the capacity to pay ₦100,000 and above, and considering that Imo state is not the highest in terms of revenue, it then means others are encouraged to do more. That is the whole essence of minimum wage.”
“Minimum wage is the least; states can do better. I think this is an initiative that other governors are supposed to follow. You must not wait for the next three years for a wage to be reviewed especially given the current economic situation, so that people can at least survive.”
Ajaero also raised concerns over developments at the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF). He alleged diversion of workers’ contributions, saying, “It therefore becomes imperative that we also alert you of a dangerous development.”
“The state, having diverted 40 percent of workers’ contributions in NSITF, is now seeking to unilaterally amend the NSITF Act.”
“This is to allow the government to control a fund that entirely belongs to workers. We had demanded that the funds be accounted for and returned so that Nigerian workers will enjoy the benefits of the agency.”
