By Chukwuma Umeorah
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero has explained how Organized Labour arrived at the minimum wage of N615, 000 it placed before the committee set up to determine the new minimum wage for workers in the country.
In a statement published by the Congress on Thursday, Ajaero explained that the N615,000 reflects a comprehensive analysis of the cost of living for the average Nigerian family across various regions of the country.
According to him, “The figure was a product of a painstaking effort through which we captured the cost of living of Nigerian workers and masses in all parts of the country. The unions conducted an independent research initiative, involving the distribution of questionnaires to their members nationwide, seeking input on the monthly expenses necessary to sustain an average family comprising both parents and four children without the burden of having other dependents with them.”
The findings detailed breakdown of essential living expenses, including housing N40,000, electricity N20,000, water N10,000, kerosene/gas N35,000, food N270,000, medical expenses N50,000, clothing N20,000, education N50,000, sanitation N10,000, and transportation N110,000.
Ajaero clarified that certain non-essential like expenditure on calls and data, offerings in churches and mosques, community dues, entertainment, savings and security were deliberately excluded from this calculation to highlight only the basic needs of the family.
He emphasized the urgency of the wage increase, particularly in light of recent developments such as the rise in electricity tariffs and fuel scarcity, which have further strained the financial capabilities of Nigerian workers.
In his words “Any figure below this amount becomes a starvation wage and condemns Nigerian workers and their families to perpetual poverty.
“We have to remember that the old one having expired on the 18th day of April, 2024, a new one is expected to have come into effect on the 19th day of April, 2024. However, because of government’s inability to comply with the Law that demanded for negotiations for a new national minimum wage to have begun 6 (six) months before the expiration of the existing one, concluding the new one has become unfortunately delayed.”