The proposed new minimum pay for Nigerian workers is N709,000, according to the Nigeria Labour Congress’s FCT division.
Dr. Stephen Knabayi, the Chairman of the NLC Federal Capital Territory, presented the proposal at the North Central Zonal Public Hearing on Thursday in Abuja, which was arranged by the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage.
In his submission, Mr. Knabayi stated that the Congress arrived at the amount after taking into account the current state of the nation’s economy.
He claims that the amount suggested will lessen Nigerians’ suffering and assist mitigate the effects of the country’s economic difficulties.
“We have a common position. This position considers the current economic plight in the country.
“We have the submission that ₦709,000 per month should be the minimum wage for the workers in the country.
“We believe that Nigeria has what it takes, the leadership should commit themselves to getting this money paid and for us to have better treatment for the working people of Nigeria,” he said.
The Trade Union Congress(TUC), FCT chapter, made its submission at the public hearing, proposing ₦447,000 as the new minimum wage.
“This will give Nigerian workers a minimum level of comfort and enable them to cope with the current level of economic hardship, which has turned the majority of them to beggars,” according to the Representative of TUC, Amaege Chukwudi.
“So for us in the FCT, we expect the minimum wage to run across the three tiers of government.”
Also, he called for policy reform that would aid massive food supply in the country.
He urged the Federal Government to provide buses to ease movement of workers , fix refineries, and ensure stable electricity supply, among other recommendations.
However, Representatives of the Forum of Retired Directors of Federal Civil Service proposed N70,000 minimum wage for workers at the hearing .
Just like their counterpart in the FCT tabled their proposal, the Organized Labour in the South-West demanded ₦794,000 as the new minimum wage while the South-East Chapter appealed to the FG to confirm ₦540,000 and ₦447,000 for Workers respectively.
