Comrade Funmi Sesi, Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos State Council, has stressed the need for broad consultation and consideration of prevailing economic realities in discussions on a new national minimum wage.
Sesi made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday while reacting to reports that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum had proposed a N100,000 minimum wage.
She maintained that wage determination must follow the established tripartite negotiation process involving labour, government and employers, stressing that governors cannot unilaterally decide on a new wage without the input of workers and other stakeholders.
“It has to be a tripartite thing. This year, we are due for the renegotiation of the minimum wage. Why are they jumping the gun?” she asked.
The labour leader recalled that during the last minimum wage negotiations, governors insisted they could not pay more than N52,000, arguing that higher wages would hamper developmental projects in their states.
She alleged that the governors’ position influenced the eventual outcome of the negotiations despite indications that the Federal Government was willing to approve a higher figure.
“Before proposing N100,000, let us ask the governors what they have been using the resources available to their states to do.
“Have they provided security for citizens? Are infrastructural facilities in place? Have they improved the welfare of the people in their states?” Sesi queried.
She noted that the rising cost of living, high fuel prices and inflation had significantly eroded workers’ purchasing power, making it imperative to carefully assess economic indicators before arriving at a new wage structure.
“We can no longer fill the tanks of our vehicles as before. People now prioritise their movements because of the high cost of fuel and other economic challenges,” she said.
