How to resolve the minimum wage conundrum -Nigerians

 

 

The organised labour has been on a battle with the federal government over the minimum wage, which has led to strikes. While the labour union is asking for N494, 000 as minimum wage; the government is offering anything above 60,000. There is still a stalemate.

In this report, some Nigerians suggested what should be the minimum wage.

From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi; Okey Sampson, Umuahia; Noah Ebije, Kaduna; Tony John, Port Harcourt; Lucy Ighomuaye, Benin; Isaac Job, Uyo

 

Minimum wage should be N200, 000: Ruth Baki, primary school teacher; Benue

The N494, 000 that labour is asking for as minimum wage is unrealistic. Nigeria is rich, but I don’t think the government would be able to pay every worker that amount. Again, the N60, 000 the government is offering is too meager compared to the economic realities on ground. So, I would suggest that the minimum wage should be N200, 000 at least.

The federal government should simply reverse the fuel price. Once that is done, the cost of living will crash and even those who are not working for the government, who do not have minimum wage, can afford to fend for themselves and their families.

Labour should increase it up to N600, 000: John Tyoapine, vice chairman of NBA, Makurdi branch; Benue

The organised labour should increase it up to N600, 000. When this government came in, they immediately removed fuel subsidy and they didn’t tell Nigerians how much they were paying for fuel subsidy. Fuel rose from N185 to N600 and above and we are now buying it for N850. The removal and implementation was immediate but when it comes to the benefits of the masses, they won’t take it; it’s not important to them. Since last year, we are still talking about minimum wage and they say it’s N60, 000. Break it down, how much are the senators and House of Representatives members earning? They should also go on N60, 000 minimum wage if that is okay. Again if the government pays, the private sectors would not be able to pay. The most important thing now is that the government should bring back the fuel price to N185. For those of us in the private sector, that is the only thing we can benefit. If you ask me, labour should have continued the strike until the government obliged them.

Between N90, 000 and N100, 000 is okay as minimum wage: Onah Adeyi, general secretary, Albinism Association of; Benue

Yes, the labour union is asking for N494, 000 and the government is offering 60,000. Both of them have reasons to stand their grounds. We all go to the same market and the total package for a serving senator per annum is N29, 479,749. He takes newspaper allowance, which is 50 percent of his basic annual salary amounting N1, 242,122. Further breakdown puts it at N41, 000 a day for newspapers. Even if he buys all the newspapers in Nigeria in one day, he will still have balance, this is besides other allowances. They were also given N150 million to buy SUV recently.

So, we are encouraging labour to negotiate further. Fortunately and happily, the government has agreed to go above N60, 000. So, if you ask me, in the region of N90, 000 to N100, 000 should be fair enough for labour to agree. I will look forward to a living wage because that was what they promised us. I’m an advocate of do as you say. Our politicians are not doing as they say and we are going to hold them accountable. After these seven days, we are in full support, if there is no amicable agreement, we continue that strike.

Minimum wage should be pegged between N100, 000 and N150, 000: Okon Akpan-Brown, legal practitioner; Akwa Ibom

The federal government should consider economic indices to determine minimum wage for workers. Those indices supposed to give government the background within which to fix minimum wage. The workers have to feed their children, save for the rainy day and have leftovers for any family emergency.  When a senator is earning almost N30m monthly then workers are not better off. The minimum wage should be pegged between N100, 000 and N150, 000.  Above all, a living wage should be able to take an average worker home rather than drop them halfway on the road.

N100, 000 is realistic: Anyanime Umoren, businessman; Uyo

The NLC demand for N464, 000 was not feasible and realistic.  A minimum wage of N100, 000 should be adopted by government for a start.

N100, 000 is more realistic than N464, 000 demanded by NLC. I know government cannot pay such amount. Total of minimum wage pushed by NLC is N9trillion, which is higher than the national budget.

This means that government will focus more on recurrent expenditure than capital expenditures. I know a lot people complain of senators’ salary. Senators are only 91 for tenure of four years.

N100, 000 to N150, 000 is reasonable: Edward John Auta, PDP chairmanship aspirant, Kaduna

The federal government and NLC should come to term on a particular amount as the minimum wage. Both sides should be very considerate and reasonable. While it is utopian to demand N494, 000 as minimum wage by organised labour, offering a paltry N60, 000 by the federal government in view of the rising cost of living in the country is also unreasonable. What I will consider reasonable is anything in the region of N100, 000 to N150, 000, while the government also works on stabilising the economy, providing subsidy in key areas, such as agriculture, power, transportation, education, and healthcare.

N70, 000 is good: Rev. Emmanuel Olorunmagba, cleric; Kaduna

The decision-makers of the organised labour are getting it very wrong as a result of their being so self-centered, and obviously they don’t care about the progress of the country.

So, they can now shutdown the nation while demanding for N494, 000. Obvious of the fact that such demand if granted at this period of economic downturn, would only result in more unbearable inflation. So, I want to go by the N70, 000 for now. Then the focus should be more on stimulating the economy and implement policies that will force prices of essential commodities down.

N60, 000 is in order: Emmanuel Ebong, graphic designer, Kaduna

The same NLC, TUC didn’t embark on indefinite strike when the cost of fuel pump price was increased, as a result of the sudden removal of subsidy without prior arrangement to cushion the effects. And as our naira is crashing daily, where are leaders of organised labour? There is hike in electricity tariff, but the same organised labour didn’t remember that they could shut the nation down in protest. To be very frank, N494, 000 minimum wage demanded by labour is not feasible. It will bring about the cost of living and inflation to triple. So for me N60, 000 minimum wage is in order”

N150, 000 is recommended: David Salami, lecturer; Edo

I support the industrial action embarked upon by the organised labour (NLC and TUC) because the federal government is actually insensitive to the demands for a living wage for Nigerian workers. I will recommend N150, 000 as the minimum wage due to high cost of living and inflation currently ravaging the country as our economy continues to suffer in the global financial markets.

N100, 000 is good: Dr. Bishop Akhalamhe, educationist; Edo

  With the current hardship in Nigeria, federal government needs to approve N100, 000 minimum wage for workers.

Nigerians are suffering. Workers salaries can no longer take them home.  Workers now spend their salaries on transport, and inflation has also made the value of our currency worthless.

This is occasioned by recent harsh government policies, such as fuel subsidy removal. It is sad that this situation has reflected in the living condition of the average Nigerian worker. To say the least, government needs to visit the root cause of our problems.

50% of what labour is asking for is considerate: Miracle Oviosun, student; Edo

It is said that a labourer is worthy of his wages. So, if they are asking for such an amount of money, you can’t really blame them because of the hikes in food prices. The workers have families to take care of, bills to pay and so; they think it is their own right.  But, for the government to reduce the N494, 000 to N60, 000, is something they have to look into.

One of the ways to solve this problem is for them to come to the roundtable and discuss the way out and if the government can meet 50 percent of what they are asking for, it is still okay

Between N100, 000 and N200, 000 for a start: Enefaa Georgewill, activist; Rivers

The N494, 000 national minimum wage demanded by organised Labour is in order considering the current realities in the country.  Don’t forget, Labour didn’t just make the demand. There are indices as applied to global practices that the Labour considered. I would propose between N100, 000 and N200, 000 while Labour and Federal Government’s negotiation for the N494, 000 national minimum wage continues.

N150, 000 is realistic: Aniefon Dick, journalist; Rivers

In my own view, I think the minimum wage should be N150, 000 given the prevailing economic circumstances we are in right now. For several years now, the Nigerian worker is heavily underpaid and it is the responsibility of the government to ensure the welfare and also security of her citizens.

In tandem with the pressing hard inflation hitting us in the country, I think a new wage of N150, 000 for Nigerians is sustainable and realistic.

N200, 000 is fair, realistic: Prince Wiro, journalist; Rivers State

I understand that Labour is demanding N494, 000 minimum wage considering the high cost of things in the country, while the federal government is saying it will pay N60, 000 considering the realty of paying such wage. In my opinion, N200, 000 minimum wage will be fair and realistic. However, I want the federal government to work towards reducing the prices of food items and controlling the inflation in the country.

N250, 000 is good: Anthony Obioha, businessman, Abia

It is true that the cost of things are very high in this country, and the N30,000 minimum wage being paid to workers presently in the country can’t even get an average family a good pot of soup. I am very much in support of the demand by Labour for an enhanced minimum wage. But, certainly it is not in the region of N494, 000 which is very outrageous. Paying Labour N494, 000 would no doubt have ripple effect on the nation’s economy as inflation will rise beyond anybody’s imagination. I therefore suggest N250, 000 minimum wage.

Between N100, 000 and N150, 000 is realistic: Ebere Uzoatu, lawyer; Abia

The demand by Labour for increase in workers’ minimum wage is right. But Labour’s demand of N494, 000 minimum wage to me, is on the high side.

The number of workers in the country is high and paying them such amount may collapse the economy. Moreover, some states have not been able to pay the present N30, 000 minimum wage and raising the amount to N494, 000 would make it impossible for many states to pay.

My own suggestion is that going by the way things are in the country, the minimum wage should be pegged at between N100, 000 to N150, 000 which I believe is realistic.

N120, 000 to N150, 000 is good: Celestine Kanu, agriculturist; Abia

There is no gainsaying the fact that the take home pay of workers in the country, no longer take them home.

Inasmuch I am in support of increasing the minimum wage of workers in the country, it is not definitely to the tune of N494, 000 which is unrealistic as far as I am concerned.

In my opinion, the minimum wage should be between N120, 000 to N150, 000. Although going by the high cost of things in the country, that amount is not even enough, but we have to consider the inflationary effect of over bloated minimum wage on the nation’s economy.