Employees represented by the Federal Workers Forum (FWF) have advised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to diminish the value of the naira following the enactment of the new national minimum wage. This counsel was expressed during a gathering held on Sunday, and a formal statement was issued afterward, bearing the signature of Comrade Andrew Emelieze, the National Coordinator of the forum.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has persistently advocated for a revised national minimum wage since the removal of subsidies on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). While commending the government for instituting the wage adjustment, the forum urged against any devaluation of the naira post the implementation of the new national minimum wage.
Emelieze additionally urged the government to settle all outstanding dues owed to federal workers and to announce the new minimum wage by Workers Day, scheduled for May 1, 2024. Despite the gratitude expressed for the ₦35,000 wage increment, the forum emphasized that it has not adequately addressed the economic hardships faced by federal workers since the subsidy removal and subsequent currency devaluation.
Stressing the necessity for a livable wage, the forum insisted that President Tinubu’s commitment to such a wage must be upheld. Given the current cost of living challenges, they argued that ₦300,000, which is less than 1% of the President’s salary, would not be excessive as a federal minimum wage.
They highlighted the daily expenses for transportation and meals, asserting that for survival, a worker would require an average of ₦10,000 per day. They called for fairness and justice in wage determination, declaring their intention to reject anything below a livable wage and demanding the clearance of all outstanding dues owed to federal workers.
Lastly, they appealed to the Federal Government to refrain from any actions that would further devalue the naira, emphasizing that federal workers have endured enough hardship and it is time to eradicate poverty among them.