Decentralization of Minimum wage: NLC opposes the idea; Give Reasons
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) strongly opposes the idea of decentralizing minimum wage negotiations, arguing that it would unfairly disadvantage workers in certain states. Adebayo Aribatise, NLC’s Secretary in Oyo State, expressed concerns in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ibadan. He emphasized that allowing states to individually negotiate wages could lead to discrepancies and hinder uniformity in workers’ rights across the country.
Recent calls by politicians, including former Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi, have advocated for decentralization, suggesting that states should independently negotiate wages with their respective labour unions. Fayemi, who once chaired the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, argued that such decentralization would better cater to varying economic capacities among states.
However, Aribatise countered this viewpoint, asserting that decentralization would be detrimental to national unity and could result in some states failing to fully implement even the current national minimum wage of N30,000. He highlighted concerns that certain governors might exploit the opportunity to undercut workers’ rights, potentially leading to widespread disparity and unfair labour practices.
“The existing legal framework mandates states to adhere to the national minimum wage set by the federal government,” Aribatise reaffirmed. He stressed the importance of maintaining a centralized approach to ensure equitable treatment of workers nationwide, warning that decentralization could perpetuate inequities and compromise the well-being of junior workers who already struggle with inadequate compensation.
