Workers group urges FG to increase minimum wage to N200,000

The Workers’ Alliance for Inclusive Socio-economic Reforms (WAISER) has urged the federal government to establish a new monthly minimum wage of N200,000. In a statement released on Tuesday, Amodu Isiaka, the national coordinator of the group, stated that this step would help alleviate the impact of the recent removal of petrol subsidies on Nigerians.

Following President Tinubu’s declaration that “petrol subsidy is gone” during his inaugural speech on May 29, the country witnessed a resurgence of fuel queues and an increase in pump prices nationwide. This policy has sparked varied reactions among Nigerians.

Currently, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) are engaged in discussions with the federal government to mitigate the consequences. Joining the conversation, WAISER argued that the current national minimum wage of N30,000 has become unsustainable and should be revised by about “500%.”

Additionally, the group proposed that the government designate two days a week for e-governance to minimize the impact on workers and enhance productivity. The statement emphasized the need for an immediate increase in wages for workers, stating that the current minimum wage is no longer feasible. WAISER suggested a monthly wage of N200,000, representing a significant increase.

Furthermore, the statement highlighted that some states, such as Kwara, Edo, and others, have implemented work-free days, while Benue has experimented with work-free days for farming. Kaduna state also has a policy of work-free days. This approach could potentially reduce work-related expenses by up to 40%.