The Nigerian Labour Congress has distanced itself from the N500,000 being canvassed as the brand new minimal wage.
The NLC famous that it has but to undertake a place on an quantity to be introduced to the tripartite committee on the Nationwide Minimal Wage charged with fixing a brand new minimal wage for staff.
President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, disclosed this in an unique interview with our correspondent in Yola on Saturday.
The NLC President, talking in Yola on the sidelines of the North East Zonal Public Listening to by the Tripartite Committee on Nationwide Wages, the place numerous stakeholders canvassed for a brand new minimal wage, mentioned the N500,000 and N700,000 being proposed as the brand new minimal wage are unknown to the NLC.
Based on him, all of the figures flying round ought to be disregarded as a result of the NLC as a physique has but to undertake a typical presentation on the brand new minimal wage.
He mentioned, “The N500K, N700K you’re listening to are being collated on the degree of the states. In Lagos and different locations, I feel they’re about N700,000 whereas elsewhere they’re speaking about N500,000, that are inputs collated from geopolitical zones.
“However the NLC secretariat has not made any presentation, these minimal figures are what’s coming from the states. Once we collate them then we’ll do a central presentation based mostly on these uncooked supplies we’re getting from states.”
He, nonetheless, defined that labour shall be guided in adopting a brand new minimal wage based mostly on financial parameters which takes under consideration the present price of residing on the states in addition to the alternate charge of the naira to the greenback.
“It (minimal wage) needs to be relative to price of residing in these states. You’ll agree with me that lease right here just isn’t as that in Abuja, and never the identical factor as Lagos. So comparatively talking you gained’t have a straight jacket like displays by Labour in all of the states, ” Ajaero added whereas noting loads relied on the administration of the financial system.
He mentioned the brand new minimal wage to be decided, if in any respect it is going to be of any tangible profit, will rely upon how nicely the managers of the financial system will handle the financial system by tackling all of the underlying components chargeable for driving inflation in order that the wage that staff would have on the finish of the day can be secure.
Ajaero mentioned, “I don’t see why paying $300 comparatively talking will now create inflation that can cripple the companies.
“Our currencies ought to be pegged in such a approach that it positive aspects its worth. Till you do such, you don’t hold holding just one issue of production- which is labour down.
“These industrialists no matter they’re producing the value has gone up by over 500%.
“The employee no matter he’s shopping for whether or not meals stuff and transportation the value has equally gone up in the identical vein.
“All of the small scale enterprise folks that promote Garri, toothpaste and vegetable will get share of it. The wage is a technique you flow into prosperity. So i don’t assume it is going to worsen it.”
It was revealed on the North East Zonal Public Listening to on the Nationwide Minimal Wage, carried out by the tripartite committee on Nationwide Minimal wage the place numerous stakeholders canvassed for a brand new minimal wage, that the present minimal wage shall be expiring on April 17 2024.
The NLC President has additionally made clear that staff should be paid the arrears if the nation fails to get a New Minimal wage earlier than the deadline date, as a result of no matter increment outcomes on the finish of the day, labour shall be asking for arrears.
Ajaero mentioned, “The present minimal wage shall be expiring by seventeenth April, 2024. In the event that they didn’t do what they’re saying then we’ll be asking for arrears. The difficulty of renegotiation is crucial as a result of the minimal wage is a benchmark, that’s the minimal any employee ought to earn.”
NMA chairman of Adamawa State, Dr. Solomon Bulus, has warned of extra premature deaths ensuing from hardship, including that the prevalence of Excessive Blood Stress now stood at 30% for the inhabitants.
He mentioned the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council, backed the implementation of N500,000 new minimal wage as a result of it is going to drive down the hardship being skilled nationally.
Bulus who acknowledged this in his presentation on the North East Zonal Public listening to on the nationwide minimal, carried out by the tripartite committee on Nationwide Minimal wage mentioned, ” The NMA desires to assist the five hundred,000 new minimal wage within the nation. The prevalence of HBP is 30% when we have now that minimal wage it won’t push us into the issue that we have now at the moment.
