NLC Rejects Proposed N48,000 Minimum Wage, Threatens Strike
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared that it would rather encourage workers to stay home or offer their services for free than accept the Federal Government’s proposed new minimum wage of N48,000. This stance was revealed by the Deputy President of the NLC Political Commission, Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, during an exclusive interview with FCG on Sunday.
Following a breakdown in negotiations last Wednesday, where both the NLC and the Trade Union Congress walked out after the Federal Government’s offer fell significantly short of the N615,000 demanded by the unions, Ndubuaku expressed strong dissatisfaction. He emphasized that the proposed amount was an insult to Nigerian workers.
In response to the walkout, Alhaji Bukar Goni, Chairman of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage, sent a letter dated May 16, inviting the unions back for another negotiation session on Tuesday.
Ndubuaku made it clear that the NLC would not relent until a better offer is made. He criticized the government and state governors for offering excuses despite increased allocations.
“We have given the Federal Government an ultimatum. If the new minimum wage is not settled by the end of this month, we will all stay at home. Instead of accepting N48,000 per month, we will instruct workers to either work for free or take up artisan work. That’s our current position,” Ndubuaku stated.
He questioned the government’s rationale behind the proposed wage, highlighting that the National Bureau of Statistics has documented that the average daily cost of food is N900, which contradicts the government’s stance.
“We are expecting a comprehensive plan this Tuesday. We can’t discuss ‘Renewed Hope’ without a concrete roadmap that supports the people’s expectations. They need to outline their plans for food security, transportation subsidies (including potential CNG buses), and health insurance. We await Tuesday’s outcomes to see what will be presented,” Ndubuaku concluded.
