NAIRA DEVALUATION: NLC Wants N48,000 As New Minimum Wage

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) will soon propose a new minimum wage to the federal government following the decline in the value of naira, the Secretary General, Nigerian Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), Comrade Issa Aremu, has said.

Aremu spoke yesterday on the sidelines of a policy dialogue on naira devaluation in Lagos said the current N18,000 is no longer sustainable and the NLC would propose N48,000 as minimum wage.

He said governors and employers of labour who fail to pay salaries should resign and be prosecuted.

He recalled that the first minimum wage was N125 in 1981 when the naira was about twice the value of the dollar and this translated to 250 dollars.

“The minimum wage has declined to 60 dollars. It has to move to N48,000. That is why the NLC is ready to prepare to submit our new proposal and this will be done, I tell you, whether through struggle, we will get that result.

“We are one of the poorest countries in the world. Ghanaians stand better than us. Workers’ wage is to turn the economy around and in spite of that some governors are still not paying as and when due. That’s why I said any governor or any employer that doesn’t pay salaries should resign and not only that, he should be prosecuted because the Nigerian constitution is very clear that they should pay salaries as at when due,” he said.

He said it was high time Nigeria began to consume what is produced locally in order to reduce reliance on foreign exchange and provide employment for the unemployed.

Posted: at 13-02-2016 12:09 AM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac

oya go dey collect am

Posted: at 13-02-2016 12:14 AM (9 years ago) | Grande Master

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Posted: at 13-02-2016 12:26 AM (9 years ago) | Newbie

Labour should do the maths before making such a staggering request .All Nigerians want a share of what is due to them ,that's not bad to do but not at the wrong time.This request is overdue but should have been made when crude oil was at the highest peak and not now that the major source of Nigeria foreign currency source has totally depleted .It will be wrong to compare the nation of 1981 to the nation of 2016.If all is well or if we have progress from the time and until now would be different and such demand can be justified .Nigeria of 1981 was better than Nigeria of 2016 all because the politicians and Millitary administrator corrupt practices and mismanagement for decades brought the nation to its knee.Even if the minimum salary was set to 48000 before now ,I'm sure at this point with the current deficit in government coffers a compromise would be needed to trim or reduce the minimum salary .Otherwise ,government will default on its obligation to pay workers salary .I think this demand is coming at the wrong time .

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Posted: at 13-02-2016 01:31 AM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac

where would the money come from .....all major  oil producing countries are slowly sinking into debt and crises.

Posted: at 13-02-2016 03:12 AM (9 years ago) | Hero

we are waiting for positive outcome

Posted: at 13-02-2016 05:15 AM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Good move but at a wrong time. NLC should also considered where the money will be generated from.

Posted: at 13-02-2016 05:44 AM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac

This is serious! What a world of lies?

Posted: at 13-02-2016 06:24 AM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac

abeg make them carry on...everything don
go up for naija.....oh

Posted: at 13-02-2016 07:20 AM (9 years ago) | Hero

I second but if and only the NLC will not take some change for a silent.

Posted: at 13-02-2016 08:40 AM (9 years ago) | Addicted Hero