NLC South West Region Demands N749,000 As New Minimum Wage

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the southwest region has demanded N749,000 as the monthly minimum wage.

Also, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the region proposed N447,000 minimum monthly wage.

Both labour unions presented their demands in the memorandum submitted during the open hearing of the zone on the proposed new monthly national minimum wage.

Lagos state chairman of NLC, Mrs. Funmi Sessi who presented the congress position said Tjeir demand was based on the economic reality.

For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, if we had a total of these for each member of a family of six, that is about N3,000 per day.

This is N3,000 multiplied by six and by 30 days, making about N540,000 for feeding. This is what we are asking the Federal Government.

Read Also:

Ghana Adjusts Minimum Wage Amidst Rising Prices

On housing and rent, we are asking for N200,000 per month, which amounts to about N2.4m less N100000 for N2.5m when you want to rent decent housing within Lagos metropolis and likewise other states in the southwest region.

After the removal of the subsidy, it’s like the landlord association held a meeting to increase house rent across the region.

We are asking for N200,000 per month for housing.

However, the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, who represented the southwest governors, said the state government needed to be allowed to negotiate with workers on a sustainable minimum wage based on each state’s financial peculiarities.

He said, While it will be desirable to see that a uniform minimum wage is agreed upon on a national basis, it will amount to self-deceit to assume that the state has equal ability to pay.

To this effect, I will humbly advise that individual states will have to negotiate with their workers and agree to a realistic and sustainable minimum wage in line with the available resources.