The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) claims that electricity rates exceed the proposed minimum wage of ₦70,000.
The group also stated that inflation had reduced the new minimum pay. Ajaero noted that the present administration’s tax regime, particularly the salary tax, was nearly as expensive as the N70,000 new minimum wage.
He said that the exorbitant prices of rents and transportation have rubbished the new wage approved for Nigerian workers.
The NLC President said, “We have fought battles on minimum wage, and we are still fighting on it. We have fought battles on fuel subsidy and we are still fighting battles on tax regimes. It is a period where tax on your salaries is almost higher than the minimum wage increase on your salaries. It is a period we need to sit and reflect on our survival.
“What are those things that affect us most? The social safety nets that are obtainable in some developed economies of the world we need to fight for them. Very important, the cost of living index. We need to look at it. How does it affect an average worker?
“The manner in which the minimum wage was implemented – me, Osifo and others – we fought and got the N70,000 minimum wage, but how was it implemented? In the local government, for teachers, for workers, in the formal and informal sectors of the economy.
“Whatever we got in terms of minimum wage has been eroded by inflation. The landlords have taken it all; the transporters have taken it; electricity tariff is more than our minimum wage; the tariff on telecom is going high by the day.”
About the Author
