Organized labor, represented by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has provided details of its suggested N615,000 minimum wage. These specifics were communicated in a statement issued by the NLC on Friday. As per the statement, a significant portion of the proposed minimum wage is allocated to food and transportation.
The breakdown indicates that N270,000 is earmarked for food for thirty days, with N110,000 allocated for transportation. Additionally, allocations are made for electricity/power (N20,000), accommodation (N40,000), utility water (N10,000), kerosene/gas (N35,000), clothing (N20,000), education (N50,000), sanitation (N10,000), and medical expenses (N50,000), totaling N615,000.
Earlier, both Festus Osifo, President of TUC, and Joe Ajaero, President of NLC, had disclosed the proposal for the N615,000 minimum wage in separate statements. Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu conveyed in his May Day message to workers that an increase in the minimum wage is on the horizon.
This development arises as Nigerian workers contend with the high cost of living driven by escalating inflation, which reached 33.20 per cent in March 2024.