The setting of a new minimum wage has caused division within Organised Labour, as evidenced by the lack of unanimity during public hearings conducted by the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage (TCNMW) across several geo-political zones of Nigeria.
In the South-West zone, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) proposed a minimum wage of N794,000, while the Trade Union Congress (TUC) suggested N497,000. Meanwhile, the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) Director-General in Ilorin, Kwara State, Comrade Issa Aremu, proposed a range between N120,000 and N200,000.
In the South-East, the NLC advocated for a minimum wage of N540,000, whereas the TUC recommended N447,000. In the South-South region, workers proposed N850,000, while their counterparts in the North-West suggested N485,000.
Finance Minister Wale Edun stated that the committee is interested in well-researched position papers that will aid informed decisions.
South-South workers proposed N850,000, with their North-West counterparts angling for N485,000 minimum wage.
This happened as North-West governors shunned the conversation with their South-West colleagues, saying it would be hard to sustain higher wages for their workers without a significant adjustment in some of the narratives in the national economy, such as revenue sharing formula.
However, Governors Douye Diri (Bayelsa) and Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom) promised to abide by the resolutions of the parleys.
The minister, who is the South West Zonal Committee Chairman on the minimum wage, said: “We must recognize the significance of this assignment and its multiplier effect on the lives of millions of hardworking citizens and our great country Nigeria.
We recognize the interests of balancing both employers and employees to achieve a fair and sustainable minimum wage that promotes social justice and economic stability.”
“The 37-member National Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee, which Mr. President constituted with equal memberships drawn from the government side (Federal and states) organised labour and the employers’ association has been tasked with ensuring that our minimum wage reflects the evolving economic landscape, adequately addresses the well-being of our workforce and of course the ability to pay sustainably.”