Opposition Reps suggest over N100,000 minimal wage
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Lawmakers within the House of Representatives elected on the platform of opposition political events have referred to as on the Federal Government to implement a brand new minimal wage of greater than N100,000 to assuage organised labour.
Organised labour, made up of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, is demanding N494,000 minimal wage versus N60,000 proposed by the Federal Government.
After a collection of conferences led to stalemate final week, organised labour launched into a nationwide strike on Monday, which grounded financial actions throughout the nation.
In an interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, lamented the situation of the common Nigerian employee, stressing that failure to pay a dwelling wage was a constitutional breach.
He mentioned, “In Nigeria at this time, any wage beneath $200 (N298,800) is ridiculous. The Nigerian employee is closely underpaid and it’s the accountability of the federal government to make sure the safety and welfare of its residents. Failure to pay a dwelling wage is unconstitutional because the welfare of residents is uncared for.
“Public and government officers should have their monthly wages while we consider the hourly rate for private or casual employees. The earlier the government concludes this matter with labour unions, the better.”
Like Chinda, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party and lawmaker representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Osun State, Oluwole Oke, mentioned solely the fee of a dwelling wage would allow nearly all of Nigerians to deal with the present financial realities.
“The minimum wage the Federal Government should pay should be N120,000. I say this because wage increase has its linkages, effects and consequences. Nigerian workers deserve living wages.”
Oluwole, who chairs the House Committee on Judiciary, urged the personal sector to be considered.
“We need to look at productivity in the private sector. Would the private sector that feeds the government survive? We have a serious issue at hand,” he added.
On his half, the lawmaker representing Abuja Municipal/Bwari Federal Constituency of the Federal Capital Territory, Chinedu Obika mentioned the minimal wage shouldn’t be lower than N150,000 “based on the current reality.”
Obika, a member of the Labour Party, additional urged the Federal Government to take into accounts the inflation charge prior to now few years, when contemplating the brand new wage for the Nigerian staff.
