Voice Air Media, News Update

THE National Labour Congress, NLC, president, Joe Ajaero, says the Federal Government should look at N1 million as monthly minimum wage if inflation and other economic indicators worsen.

Ajaero disclosed this on Sunday in an interview with Arise Television.

According to the NLC president, the new minimum wage must reflect the country’s economic conditions, adding that as long as the dollar keeps rising against the naira, the demands for a higher minimum wage will be inevitable.

He reiterated that the initial N200,000 minimum wage proposal is no longer tenable, citing the soaring price of food items and inflationary pressure in the economy.

He said the organized Labour is meeting with the Federal Government on Monday to discuss resolutions around the strike notice issued by the NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC.

“This N1 million may be relevant if the value of the Naira continues to depreciate; if the inflation continues to depreciate. The demand for Labour is equally dependent on what is happening in society.

“You will remember that by the time we contemplated N200,000, the exchange rate was about N900. Today, the exchange rate is about N1,400 or even more.

“Those are the issues that determine the demand, and they are equally affecting the cost of living, and we have always said that our demand will be based on the cost of living index.

“You’ll agree that a bag of rice is about N60,000 to N70,000. Foodstuff is getting out of reach. Now, will we get a minimum wage that is insufficient for transportation, even for one week?

“We have to factor in all these issues. And that will determine the federal government’s commitment to these negotiations,” he said.

VAM recalls that organized Labour issued a 14-day nationwide strike notice last week.

However, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration had appealed to workers not to embark on a strike over the country’s economic condition.