Minimal Wage: Why Tinubu, Nigerian Governors Ought to Pay Employees Above N62,000

• PDP chieftain, Usman Okai, has waded into the demand for a minimal wage increment by organised labour
• Talking completely with TheTalk.NG on the minimal wage dispute, he urged the federal authorities to prioritise the wants of the Nigerian employees and never deal with them as slaves
• Okai famous that the proposed enhance in minimal wage may have a constructive affect on the financial system, he thereby urged President Tinubu to “be sure that state governments adhere to the agreed-upon minimal wage phrases and agreements”

TheTalk.NG journalist Esther Odili has over two years of expertise overlaying political events and actions.

Usman Okai, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Occasion (PDP), has backed organised labour’s demand for a better minimal wage.

PDP chieftain endorses labour’s minimal wage demand amid negotiations with Tinubu’s authorities.
Picture credit score: Usman Okai Austin, @DOlusegunSource: Fb

N494,000, N250,000 minimal wage demand: Labour is strategic

Okai, the PDP candidate in 2023 for the Dekina/Bassa Federal Home of Representatives election, insisted that the management of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) shouldn’t be criticised for its demand of N494,000 as the brand new minimal wage, noting “it’s a strategic transfer”.

The PDP chieftain state thus:

“Regarding labour’s demand of 494,000 as minimal wage; The fact is that labour is conscious that the federal government can’t conform to a minimal wage of N494,000, however the NLC makes use of this determine as a place to begin for negotiations. Labour leaders perceive that the federal government can’t pay such an quantity, however in addition they know {that a} sequence of conferences and negotiations will result in a mutually agreed-upon determine. This preliminary demand is a strategic transfer, and as we will see, labour has already lowered its demand to N250,000, which can be topic to additional negotiations. It is a frequent follow in collective bargaining, and there may be nothing incorrect with making an preliminary demand that’s topic to compromise.”

Minimal wage: Nigerian governors shouldn’t intimidate labour

In the meantime, negotiation on the brand new minimal wage continues. Whereas the federal authorities led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has supplied to pay N62,000 as minimal wage, organised labour are demanding N250,000.

Curiously, the 36 state governors maintained that they aren’t in settlement with the federal authorities on the most recent supply and can’t afford to pay N60,000 as minimal wage.

Talking on the event, Okai, in a phone interview with TheTalk.NG on Sunday, June 9, expressed concern over FG’s lack of ability to fulfill the NLC and its Commerce Union Congress (TUC) demand.

He famous that regardless of the cruel financial realities, some state governments have refused to pay the agreed N30,000 minimal wage.

Going ahead, the PDP chieftain backed labour’s proposed N250,000 because the minimal wage, urging President Tinubu to make sure state governors adhere to “the agreed-upon minimal wage.”

“For my part, the federal authorities’s lack of ability to implement compliance with minimal wage agreements amongst state governments is a big concern. Regardless of elevated allocations, some states nonetheless fail to pay the agreed-upon N30,000 minimal wage. Moreover, governors usually use coercive techniques to intimidate labour leaders, as seen in Kogi state. The federal authorities should be sure that state governments adhere to the agreed-upon minimal wage phrases and agreements. That is particularly essential given the current worth will increase and tax hikes, which have negatively impacted residents because the removing of the subsidy. Uniform cost of the agreed-upon minimal wage is crucial to mitigate these results.”

N30,000 minimal wage is insufficient

In the meantime, many specialists have argued that the federal authorities’s choice to pay N250,000 as minimal wage will affect the financial system negatively however Usman Okai differs.

The PDP chieftain particularly famous that the current transfer by the organised labour may have a constructive affect on the nation’s financial system.

Talking additional, Okai stated the present minimal wage is insufficient and NLC shouldn’t be blamed for Nigeria’s present financial woes.

New minimal wage will increase Nigeria’s financial system

“The proposed enhance in minimal wage may have a constructive affect on the nation’s financial system, encouraging productiveness and development. It’s unfair responsible civil servants for the present inflation fee of 33.69% (as of April 2024). As a substitute, we must always deal with addressing their plight and guaranteeing they obtain a residing wage.

“The present minimal wage in Nigeria is woefully insufficient, barely overlaying the price of a bag of rice, not to mention different important bills like lease, college charges, and transportation. Employees deserve higher residing circumstances and ought to be handled with dignity, not as slaves. They’ve households to assist, kids to teach, and family members to take care of.

“The remedy of civil servants is unfair, and the president should act now to handle their state of affairs. Many depend on public transportation to get to work, which has just lately elevated by 200%. It is a clear indication that the federal government’s insurance policies are suffocating Nigerians. It’s time for a change.

“Growing the minimal wage won’t solely profit employees but in addition increase the financial system. With extra disposable earnings, folks may have the ability to buy items and companies, stimulating financial development and lowering starvation. It’s time for the federal government to prioritize the welfare of its residents and take decisive motion to handle the present financial challenges.”

250k minimal wage: PDP chief advises NLC, TUC

Equally, Dare Glintstone Akinniyi, the spokesperson for the PDP Nationwide Youth Group, urged the NLC and the TUC to be practical with their demand for a brand new minimal wage.

Akinniyi insisted that Nigeria is poor in the mean time and the present financial system makes it tough for President Tinubu to pay N250,000 as minimal wage

Talking completely with TheTalk.NG on Sunday, June 9, the PDP chieftain listed 4 requests labour ought to suggest from Tinubu’s led authorities as a substitute of a wage increment

Supply: TheTalk.NG