The Labour Party (LP) says the N494,000 minimum wage being demanded by organised labour is “unrealistic”.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have repeatedly proposed N615,500 and N494,000 as the new national minimum wage, citing inflation and the prevailing economic hardship.
On Monday, labour commenced an indefinite strike over the federal government’s refusal to meet its demand.
Speaking with NAN on Monday, Obiora Ifoh, LP spokesperson, asked the NLC to suspend the strike and resume talks with the federal government.
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Obiora said the industrial action will worsen the economic hardship in the country.
“Our immediate reaction is that the organised labour should not throw Nigerians into more hardship,” he said.
“Nigerians are already grappling with a lot of challenges and we do not need to exacerbate the situation.
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“I think the demand for N494,000 minimum wage is unrealistic. It is really unrealistic.
“It is a figure that cannot be sustained because it will imply that Nigeria will take all that money it has to pay the civil servants.
“Negotiation should continue until they get something better.
“Asking Nigerian workers to stay at home will affect everything, including the cost of living and Nigerians cannot afford that now. Negotiation is not a one-off thing.
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“If the federal government is not willing to go above N60,000 minimum wage, I think that the organised labour should work with what is available while it continues to negotiate.
“We know this government has not gotten it right. It is still trying to test the waters.”
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