NLC vows to enforce N70,000 minimum wage nationwide

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other joint labour unions have pledged to enforce the newly agreed N70,000 minimum wage across all states, threatening to shut down any state that fails to comply.

This was disclosed by Mr. Christopher Arapasopo, Chairman of the NLC Osun Chapter, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday.

Arapasopo explained that the unions accepted the new minimum wage as a necessary sacrifice to prevent an increase in fuel pump prices. He noted that during a recent National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, all members unanimously agreed on the enforcement of the new wage.

“The governors cannot claim ignorance; they were the ones initially advocating for the N70,000 minimum wage,” Arapasopo stated.

“Labour unions initially proposed N250,000, but after negotiations, we settled for N70,000. We have made significant sacrifices, and we will not tolerate any state that fails to implement this wage. Non-compliance will result in a shutdown.”

He emphasized that the NEC meeting, concluded just hours before the interview, saw state representatives adopt the new minimum wage based on mutual agreement and understanding of the situation.

President Bola Tinubu had indicated that insisting on the N250,000 wage would necessitate a hike in fuel prices, prompting the unions to settle for N70,000 to benefit the broader population.

“As responsible citizens, we considered the impact on all Nigerians, not just workers,” Arapasopo said. “Accepting the N70,000 wage is a sacrifice to avoid further fuel price increases.”

Arapasopo warned that had the union insisted on the N250,000 minimum wage, the resulting fuel price hike and inflation would have severely affected all Nigerians. He assured that the N70,000 minimum wage is fair and represents the least salary paid to workers in the lowest cadre, with additional consequential adjustments and benefits expected to increase the overall wage.

He also mentioned that the Osun chapter of the union plans to engage with the state government to discuss other allowances for workers, reiterating that the minimum wage is non-negotiable.