Organized Labour is urging President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate his support for Nigerian workers by approving their demand for a N250,000 minimum wage, aligning with current inflationary pressures in the country.
Prince Adewale Adeyanju, a member of the negotiating team in the Tripartite Committee on the New National Minimum Wage and President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, criticized state governors for obstructing efforts to establish a reasonable wage for public workers.
He emphasized the need for empathy towards workers amidst economic challenges, highlighting the disparity in proposed wages during negotiations. While government and OPS suggested N62,000, Labour, including TUC and NLC, advocated for N250,000.
Adeyanju called on President Tinubu to prioritize workers’ welfare, noting that the minimum wage adjustment occurs every five years and profoundly impacts workers’ livelihoods. He urged the President not to yield to governors advocating for lower wages, citing their ample security votes that could fund the proposed minimum wage.
The labour leader underscored that the economy could sustain the higher wage demand, urging Tinubu to fulfill his promise of a living wage for Nigerian workers.
