The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has officially demanded a new national minimum wage of ₦794,000 for workers in the Southwest geopolitical zone.
This significant development was disclosed by the chairperson of the Lagos State chapter of the NLC, Funmi Sessi.
Sessi revealed this on Thursday, during her presentation at the ongoing public hearing of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage.
The public hearing takes place in Ikeja, Lagos.
To Sessi, the demand was a collective decision made by all members of the union within the Southwest.
The Reality Of Times
This reflects the consensus on the need for a substantial increase in the minimum wage to meet the economic realities faced by workers in the region.
This call for an increase comes at a time when the cost of living has skyrocketed.
This increase has pushed many workers into financial hardship.
Now, back to the matter on ground.
The ongoing public hearing is part of the process initiated by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
It aims to review and set a new wage for Nigerian workers.
The Panel
This journey began on January 30, 2024.
That day, Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on behalf of President Tinubu, inaugurated a 37-member panel at the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja.
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This panel was made up of representatives from the federal and state governments, the private sector, and labour unions.
Basically, the panel is tasked with the responsibility of recommending a new national minimum wage.
Presently, Nigeria’s minimum wage is 30,000 Naira while a bag of rice is about 80,000 Naira.
