Members of the organised labour, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), criticized the 36 governors for claiming they cannot afford a N60,000 minimum wage. They described the governors’ stance as “wickedness” and urged them to reconsider,Daily Trust reports.
The governors, through Hajiya Halimah Salihu Ahmed of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), stated on Friday that they couldn’t afford the proposed wage.
Reacting, NLC spokesperson Benson Upah highlighted that the cost of living has risen significantly, including fuel prices and the dollar exchange rate. He condemned the governors’ statement as being in bad faith during ongoing negotiations.
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The labour leaders pointed out that FAAC allocations have increased from N700 billion to N1.2 trillion. They argued that reducing governance costs, minimizing corruption, and prioritizing workers’ welfare could make the wage feasible.
They emphasized that the national minimum wage is meant to protect the poorest workers, noting that the current wage’s value has severely diminished due to inflation and economic policies. They warned that failing to increase the minimum wage could harm the economy and urged the governors to reconsider their position.
