TUC: Workers getting restless over new minimum wage

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has warned that workers were running out of patience with the federal government over the delay in the negotiation of a new minimum wage.

Nigeria’s current minimum wage is N18,000 with organised labour asking it be increased to at least N50,000.

Ahmed Olayinka, chairman, TUC, federal capital territory (FCT) chapter, warned that the workers cannot wait indefinitely for the government; adding that in view of the hardship being experienced by Nigerian workers as a result of economic recession, the government should fast-track the implementation of the proposed new minimum wage.

“We in the labour union and the entire Nigerian workers are losing our temper, the government must do something fast, because prices of things have skyrocket in the market.

“The common man cannot afford the basic needs of life and workers now pay double of what they used to buy in the market.”

He said that the labour union was in support of the anti-corruption drive of President Muhammadu Buhari and would do anything to expose corrupt officials.

Olayinka said that the Labour union had always been in support of good governance, adding that it was aware that corruption was fighting back and it would support the government to tame the tide.

“Corruption is fighting back and we are on the same page with the government, but the only thing we are asking for is a review of the minimum wage because N18, 000.00 can no longer take care of us.”

Also speaking, comrade Amaechi Lawrence, chairman FCT chapter, Nigeria Labour Congress said that the union embarked on a road show to sensitise Nigerians on the workers day celebration

He urged Nigerians workers, including market women and men, to come out on the May Day to celebrate workers, adding that those in the FCT should converge on the Eagle square.

Lawrence said that the NLC would continue to sensitise Nigerians against corruption while calling on the government to quickly review workers wage because the N18, 000.00 minimum wage was grossly inadequate.

On March 6, 2011, former president Goodluck Jonathan signed the N18,000 national minimum wage into law.

The new wage law states that once an employer in the public or private sector has a workforce of about 50 persons, he or she is bound by the law to pay a minimum wage of N18,000.

The signing of the law increased the national minimum wage across the country from N7, 500 to N18,000 per month.