The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned that it will mobilize workers to stay at home with their families or offer free services if the Federal Government does not improve its offer of a new minimum wage. The NLC is demanding a minimum wage of N615,000, but the government has offered N48,000, which the union considers an insult.
The Deputy President of the NLC Political Commission, Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, stated that the union will not back down until an improved offer is made. He expressed surprise that the government and state governors, who have received significant allocations, are unable to pay a robust minimum wage.
Ndubuaku emphasized that the NLC has given the government an ultimatum to implement a new minimum wage by the end of May, or workers will be advised to stay at home or offer free services. He also criticized the government’s lack of understanding of the needs of workers, citing the National Bureau of Statistics’ own data on the average cost of foodstuffs.
The NLC is seeking a comprehensive package that includes food security, transportation subsidies, and health insurance, in addition to a fair minimum wage. The union will return to negotiations on Tuesday, expecting a more robust offer from the government.