Lawmakers from opposition parties in the House of Representatives have called on the Federal Government to enact a new minimum wage exceeding ₦100,000 to appease organized labor.
According to ASM, organized labor is pushing for a minimum wage of ₦494,000, contrasting with the ₦60,000 proposed by the government.
In an interview with Punch on Tuesday, Kingsley Chinda, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, emphasized that not paying a living wage constituted a breach of the constitution.
He said, “In Nigeria today, any wage below $200 (N298,800) is ridiculous. The Nigerian worker is heavily underpaid and it is the responsibility of the government to ensure the security and welfare of its citizens. Failure to pay a living wage is unconstitutional as the welfare of citizens is neglected.
“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.”
Moreover, Oluwole Oke, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party and a legislator representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency in Osun State, contended that implementing a living wage could help most Nigerians navigate the existing economic challenges.
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.
“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.
Chinedu Obika, the legislator for Abuja Municipal/Bwari Federal Constituency in the Federal Capital Territory, emphasized that the minimum wage should be a minimum of ₦150,000, taking into account the present economic conditions. He called on the Federal Government to factor in the inflation rate when determining the new minimum wage.
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