A chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi, has expressed displeasure over the proposed N48,000 minimum wage by the Federal government, urging it to consider the current inflationary trend in the country in fixing the minimum wage for the workers.
Ajadi, said the N48,000 proposed by the Federal Government as minimum wage is unrealistic considering the current prices of foods and other commodities in the country.
Recall that representatives of the labour unions walked out of the minimum wage negotiation meeting on Wednesday when the government proposed N48,000 monthly minimum wage and the Organised Private Sector proposed N54,000 monthly minimum wage.
Ajadi had earlier proposed a minimum wage of N200,000.
Ajadi, during an interview on Thursday, said he followed with keen interest the meeting on the negotiation of new minimum wages between the government and the Organised Labour and insists the government did not consider the current reality in arriving at N48,000.
According to him: “The proposed N48,000 minimum wage is unrealistic in present-day Nigeria where Petrol is sold above N700 per litre in most filling stations. It is only the NNPC fuel stations that sell at N580 per litre.
“When we look at the prices of commodities in the market, especially foodstuffs, it will be unrealistic for an average worker to eat not to talk of sending their children to school with N48,000 monthly.
“I agree that there are so many dead woods in the civil service, people who come to work but are doing nothing. Maybe the government should consider the idea of paying workers per working hour, so that those who are working genuinely will be adequately rewarded.
“I plead with the Federal Government to consider the survival of Nigerian workers and jack up the wage. Even states like Edo on its own have increased the minimum wage to N70,000.
“I agree with the decision of the Labour to reject the N48,000 but rather than walking out of the negotiation meeting, the Labour can reject the government proposal but should continue the negotiation.
“If Labour agrees on anything less than N200,000, then they are unrealistic too. I want them to state and explain to the government delegation why no worker can survive on N48,000 minimum wage”, Ajadi said in the statement.
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