The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has stated that it never entertained the idea of a ₦100,000 minimum wage for workers, nor did it accept the ₦62,000 proposal put forth by the government.
Instead, the NLC reiterated its demand for a ₦250,000 living wage for the average Nigerian worker during the recent meeting of the Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage.
Chris Onyeka, the NLC Assistant General Secretary, reaffirmed this stance during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief show on Monday.
“Our position is very clear,” said Onyeka.
He insisted that labour won’t accept the latest government’s offer of ₦62,000 and the ₦100,000 proposal by some individuals and economists.
Onyeka said, “We have never considered accepting ₦62,000 or any other wage that we know is below what we know is able to take Nigerian workers home. We will not negotiate a starvation wage
“We have never contemplated ₦100,000 let alone of ₦62,000. We are still at ₦250,000, that is where we are, and that is what we considered enough concession to the government and the other social partners in this particular situation. We are not just driven by frivolities but the realities of the market place; realities of things we buy every day: bag of rice, yam, garri, and all of that.”
Onyeka further added that the one-week grace period given to the Federal Government last Tuesday, June 4, 2024, would expire by the midnight of Tuesday, June 11, 2024.
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