Nigerian workers may be in for better days come 2017 as the Nigeria Labour Congress has revealed plans to push for a minimum wage of N56,000 for national workers.
The union says it will re-open talks with the Federal Government to increase workers’ minimum wage from the current N18,000 to N56,000.
The union gave the Federal Government an ultimatum of May 1, 2017 to implement the new wage of N56,000, else it will embark on a nation-wide strike.
The Union had in April 2016 presented the N56,000 minimum wage proposal to the government, but, an agreement was not reached.
The President of the labour union, Mr Ayuba Waba on Monday said the union will resume talks with the government on a new minimum wage for workers in 2017.
He said the government should despite the recession, ensure workers’ welfare.
“The government cannot continue to hide under the cover of economic recession and leave the issues of workers welfare unattended to,” he said.
The labour union and its trade union affiliate have proposed a new minimum wage of 56,000 Naira to the Federal Government before the nation’s economy enters the recession.
Mr Waba further advised the Federal and States governments to set their priorities aright and attend to issues that affect the welfare of their workers instead of embarking on projects that have no economic effects on the citizenry.
Members of the union said that a review of the minimum wage was long overdue.
The renewed demand is coming at a time that most Nigerian states are struggling to pay workers the current 20,000 Naira minimum wage.
Most States governors have claimed that reduced allocation from the Federal Government was responsible for their inability to meet their financial obligations to workers and even pensioners.
