…..Private Sector Worries Over N70,000, Lists Conditions For Payment
The director Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) has declared the proposed minimum wage of N70,000 as unfair and inappropriate judging by Nigeria’s current realities.
Comrade Joel Aluko, president of the organization in his reaction to the agreement between the federal government and NLC to peg the minimum wage at N70,000 said the figure falls short of expectation.
He said, “Given the current economic reality, inflationary trend, and other factors, N70,000 minimum wage is unwelcomed because it does not give the Nigerian workers a living wage but a slavery wage.”
“On a comparative analysis, take a look at salaries of those working in the private sector, look at the salaries of political office holders, look at the salaries of Senators, House of Representatives member”.
“Then look at minimum wage in other African nation in a continent where Nigeria boast of the largest and bigger brother, then you will realise that N70,000 minimum wage is unjustifiable and should not be celebrated by any right thinking Nigerian.
“Then you also look at the rich resources God has made available to Nigeria as a country, Nigerian workers deserve a better deal”, he added.
Meanwhile, the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN) has raised issues around the ability of its members to pay the N70,000 newly approved minimum wage due to harsh economic conditions which they operate.
However, the Director-General, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, who spoke on behalf on the body, commended the federal government over the approval of the new figure, urging it to put in place reforms that would strengthen private sector to be able to pay.
He said: “While we commend the president for putting to rest the immediate issue of the National Minimum Wage, we also note, most importantly his commitment to support the sub-nationals and the organised private sector to pay the new wage”.
“In fact, the N62,000 was premised on the understanding and agreement by the government representatives that the government will take definite steps to reduce the current economic burden on the organized private sector”.
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