Labor Slashes Minimum Wage Demand To N500,000

There are strong indications that organised Labour will push for N500,000 as the minimum wage as the zonal public hearing on the new wage structure commences on Thursday (today) in Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, and Abuja.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, in an interview on February 11, had said that if the ongoing inflation persisted, organised labour might push for a new minimum wage of up to N1m for Nigerian workers.

However, a top official of the NLC said based on proposals submitted by state chapters to the congress’ headquarters, the organised Labour might push for N500,000 at today’s meeting.

The public hearing on the new minimum wage, which will take place simultaneously in all six geopolitical zones, will receive inputs from organised Labour, state governors, ministers, civil society groups, and the organised private sector on a new minimum wage reflective of the current economic realities and the workers’ aspirations.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, will chair the meeting in the North-East taking place in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, will preside over the South-West hearing taking place in Lagos.

President Bola Tinubu through his deputy, Kashim Shettima, had on January 30, 2024, inaugurated a 37-member panel on the new minimum wage at the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja.