N250,000 LIVING WAGE: Nigerian govt urges Labour to be realistic
The Nigerian government has urged the Organised Labour to agree to a national minimum wage that will not undermine the national economy and lead to mass retrenchment of workers.
Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, made the appeal while declaring open the 2024 Synod of the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday.
He emphasised the need for a realistic and sustainable wage system that balances workers’ needs with the country’s economic realities.
The minister acknowledged the government’s commitment to reviewing the minimum wage but cautioned against demands that could harm the economy.
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Idris highlighted the government’s efforts to reduce the cost of living and increase Nigerians’ purchasing power through programs like the Presidential CNG initiative, which aims to cut transportation costs by 50%.
He said: “As I have repeatedly said, the Federal Government is not opposed to the increase of wages for Nigerian Workers but we keep on advocating for a realistic and sustainable wage system for the workers – a wage system that will not undermine the economy, lead to mass retrenchment of workers and jeopardize the welfare of about 200 million Nigerians.
“We want the Labour Unions to understand that the relief that Nigerians are expecting, and that they fully deserve, will not come only in the form of an increase in wages.
“It will also come as efforts to reduce the cost of living and to ensure that more money stays in the pockets of Nigerians. And this is where programs like the Presidential CNG initiative come in. By replacing or complementing petrol usage with CNG, that program alone will cut transportation costs by as much as 50 percent.
The minister appealed to the clergy to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for Nigeria’s renaissance and pray for wisdom and guidance as the country navigates its current challenges.
