NLC Demands N56,000 Minimum Wage

The President of the NLC, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, while speaking with the press in Abuja on Wednesday,  said that the labour body made the formal proposal of a new minimum wage of N56,000 to the Federal Government on Tuesday.

Mr. Wabba said that the Nigerian workers had not fared well in the last one year and instead of lamenting the situation, they have decided to meet with the federal government. He also stated that the law made it clear that a review of the minimum wage was overdue.

“On the issue of the minimum wage, I can say authoritatively that as of yesterday (Tuesday), we have made a formal demand of N56,000 minimum wage to government.

“That demand has been submitted officially to the Federal Government and we hope that the tripartite system will look at the review mechanism that will be put in place. Our argument is that, yes, it is true that the economy is not doing well but the law is also clear that this issue must be looked into and workers should not be seen to be sleeping on their rights.

“These are processes, but when we come to the roundtable, we can then see the best way out. But I think it is obvious that since it is a product of law, it is usually required that the tripartite process be put in place so that together we can look at the issues.

“It is obvious that workers have not fared well in the last one year, but we will not continue to lament. What we try to do is to work out a process of engagement on how those issues can be addressed.”

Wabba said that the Federal Government needs to pay proper attention to the issue of the minimum wage seriously if the issue of corruption was to be addressed effectively.

“The issue of minimum wage is not essentially for now, it’s an issue we must take on board, if we want to address the issue of corruption. Without taking proper care of the worker, it is very difficult. That is why I said it’s a process and we are going to dialogue around that process. That is why collective bargaining is important,” he added.