NLC will demand up to N200,000 as minimum wage- Ajaero

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, has said it
expected a jump in the National Minimum Wage from the current N35,OOO to
between N100,000 or N200,000.

He  said the huge jump
in minimum wage is necessary because of the rising cost of living in the
country.

Ajaero, said this on Channels Television on Tuesday evening.

He spoke against the background of the suspension of the
strike action initially planned by the NLC and the TUC to commence on Tuesday
over the rising cost of living in the country as a result of the removal of
fuel subsidy.

The strike was called off after the labour leaders met with
government officials and reached an agreement to establish a committee that
will fashion out a new minimum wage for the country among others.

The Federal Government had also agreed to pay all federal
workers extra N35,000 for the next six months to cushion the effects of removal
of fuel subsidy.

Ajaero said N35,000 wage award  should not be taken as indicative of the new
minimum wage labour leaders will demand from government.

According to him, the unions may demand  up to N200,000 as the new minimum wage.

“So, it is not a minimum wage but it is a wage added to the
minimum wage. So, should we in March, April, or before that time negotiate the
new wage to be N100,000 or N200,000, it would be inscribed as minimum wage law
which should be the law in existence,” he said on Channels Television’s
Politics Today.

The NLC President added that 
many factors would be considered in arriving at a new minimum wage.

“Certain things would come into play when we discuss it –
inflation, cost of living. Every other thing would come into it.

“We would not go to ask for N65,000. We would go for a
realistic amount because N65,000 is about $70 which is not up to minimum wage.”

“The minimum wage is a product of law. Until it is
legislated in the National Assembly, it is not a minimum wage,” Ajaero said