The Nigerian government has said it will raise the minimum wage from 30,000 to meet the current realities in the economy of the country.
Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment, said this at the public presentation of the NLC of 40 publications titled, ‘contemporary history of working-class struggles’ held in Abuja on Monday.
The N30,000 minimum wage was initiated in 2019, however, after three years, some states are yet to implement.
Ngige said the federal government was aware that the N30,000 national minimum wage had depreciated.
He, therefore, said the government will look into adjusting the wages.
“Yes the inflation has increased worldwide and it is not confined to Nigeria, that is why in many jurisdictions, it is an adjustment of wages right now.
“As the Nigerian government, we shall adjust in conformity with what is happening in wages.
“More importantly, the 2019 national minimum wage act, right now has a clause for the review, which we started then, I do not know whether it is due next year or 2024.
“But before then, the adjustment of wages will reflect what is happening in the economy, just as the government has started the adjustment with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).”
On his part, Festus Osifo, president, Trade Union Congress (TUC), said workers have been dominated and oppressed by the ruling class.
Osifo also said the N30,000 minimum wage was no longer feasible in the current economic circumstances, adding that workers’ transportation fare to work for a month is in excess of their take home pay.
The value of the N30, 000 minimum wage has been eroded. It cannot take workers to work again,” he said.
