In the ongoing discussions on the new wage structure in Nigeria, organized labor has reportedly reduced its demand for a new minimum wage to N500,000.
The zonal public hearing on the matter began simultaneously in Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, and Abuja. Initially, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, had hinted at a possible demand of up to N1 million due to inflationary pressures. However, based on proposals submitted by state chapters, the organized labor has decided to push for N500,000 at the current meeting.
The public hearing aims to gather input from various stakeholders, including labor unions, state governors, ministers, civil society groups, and the organized private sector, to determine a new minimum wage that reflects the current economic situation and meets the aspirations of workers. The meetings are being held simultaneously in all six geopolitical zones, with different leaders presiding over each zone.
The issue of whether the minimum wage should be retained on the exclusive legislative list or moved to the concurrent list has also been raised. The Trade Union Congress chapters in Ogun and Katsina have called for its retention on the exclusive list, while the Kano State Commissioner of Information stated that the matter is yet to be discussed by the State Executive Council.
The Nigerian Labour Congress has conducted cost-of-living analyses in various states, and based on those findings, they are determined to demand an amount slightly above N500,000 as the minimum wage. However, the final demand will depend on the proposals submitted by state and local government chapters.
It is important to note that the negotiations and discussions are ongoing, and the final decision on the new minimum wage is yet to be reached.