Workers demand different minimum wage across geopolitical zones
The Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage, on Thursday, put forth recommendations for a new minimum wage across the six geopolitical zones.
Chaired by the Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta, the committee called for the active involvement of stakeholders in the process.
A public hearing was scheduled for March 7, with venues in Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, and Abuja.
“We invite state and local governments, labour unions, employers of labour, civil society groups, small and medium enterprises and other stakeholders in the six geo-political zones to attend,” the statement quoted the chairman as saying.
The chairman urged the stakeholders to present a memorandum which should include the proposed new national minimum wage for workers.
PUNCH Online gives a breakdown of the recommendations from across the six zones.
North West new minimum wage demand
The presentation was made by the Kano State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Kabir Inuwa, on behalf of the North West leadership of the congress.
He said the proposed minimum wage of N485,000 was necessary considering the dynamics of the national economy.
The NLC boss noted that the Minimum Wage Act has given all the protection required to ensure compliance.
North East new minimum wage demand
Labour unions in the North East proposed a monthly national minimum wage of N560,000.
During the North East Zonal Public Hearing of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage, both the NLC and Trade Union Congress branches across the six states in the region jointly recommended the amount.
In contrast, the Adamawa and Bauchi State Governments suggested N45,000.
The NLC chairman in Adamawa State, Emmanuel Fashe, presented the joint recommendation, advocating for a biennial review of the minimum wage instead of the current five-year cycle.
The Christian Association of Nigeria in Adamawa State similarly recommended N486,000 per month, considering various family expenditures.
Other groups, including the Nigeria Medical Association and the National Council of Women Societies, aligned with the NLC’s position.
The hearing, chaired by NLC President Joe Ajaero, addressed diverse recommendations, with differing proposed amounts from various groups, including N200,000 by NCWS and N75,000 by the Muslim Council of Nigeria.
The NLC chapter in the Federal Capital Territory suggested a revised minimum wage of N709,000.
The FCT Chairman of NLC, Dr Stephen Knabayi, presented the proposal during the North Central Zonal Public Hearing organised by the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage in Abuja on Thursday.
In a parallel recommendation, Mr Amaege Chukwudi, the leader of the TUC FCT chapter, proposed a monthly minimum wage of N447,000.
He highlighted the prevailing economic challenges, emphasising that many Nigerian workers are now facing dire circumstances akin to begging due to the hardship.
South West new minimum wage demand
The NLC demanded N794,000 as the new national minimum wage for workers in the South West geopolitical zone.
The labour union in the South West, through the chairperson of the Lagos State chapter of the NLC, Funmi Sessi, made the demand during her presentation at the public hearing of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage in Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday.
South South new minimum wage demand
The South-South chapter of the NLC recommended a revised minimum wage of N850,000 for workers across the country.
The chairperson of NLC in Akwa Ibom, Sunny James, made this announcement during a public hearing on the proposed wage structure held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Tuesday.
The proceedings of the event were broadcast live on Facebook. James voiced his dissatisfaction with the fact that certain states within the region have not yet implemented the existing N30,000 minimum wage, which was last updated in 2019.
South East new minimum wage demand
The NLC and the TUC in the South-East region jointly recommended N540,000 and N447,000, respectively, as the new minimum wage.
The proposal was presented by organised labour during the South-East Zonal Hearing organised by the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage in Enugu on Thursday.
Representing the NLC in the region, Fabian Nwigbo, the Chairman of the NLC Enugu State Chapter, emphasised that the purchasing power of the 2019 N30,000 minimum wage has been significantly eroded by inflation.
PUNCH Online reported on January 30 that the Federal Government inaugurated the tripartite committee on the national minimum wage.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima inaugurated the 37-member panel at the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja.
In his opening address, Shettima urged members to “speedily” arrive at a resolution and submit their reports early as the current N30,000 minimum wage expires at the end of March 2024.
