Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has proposed a new minimum wage of 90,000 naira for Nigerian workers to address the ongoing dispute between the Federal government and organized labor. During Tuesday's Senate plenary, discussions focused on the nationwide strike led by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), who are advocating for a wage increase from the current 30,000 naira.
"Sixty thousand might sound appealing; however, the entire Senate should aim to persuade both Labor and the Federal government to settle between 75,000 to 90,000 naira," Kalu stated.
He further explained, "If we consider a 90,000 naira minimum wage, this reflects a 200% increase over the current wage established five years ago. When divided by five, this increase corresponds to an annual increment of 40%, which aligns with current food inflation and purchasing power parity of about 32 to 33%. Labor should be satisfied with this proposal.
"Therefore, we should send a Senate delegation to present the 90,000 naira proposal to both the Federal Government and the Labor Party for agreement.
"Disrupting the National Grid is a significant issue, Mr. President. It may take three to four days to restore, as shutting down and restarting the grid is complex. The Federal Government and Labor must reach an agreement. While it might be challenging for the private sector to pay this wage, they will need to manage," he concluded.
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