In a statement made during the current International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has announced that no strike action is planned for tomorrow, Tuesday, in pursuit of a revised national minimum wage.
Ajaero stated that the NLC cannot declare a strike at this time because “the figures are with the President.” He noted that during the tenure of the immediate past President, the tripartite committee had proposed a minimum wage of N27,000, which the previous President increased to N30,000.
The NLC President expressed hope that the current President will “do the right thing” and increase the minimum wage, stating that “the difference between N62,000 and N250,000 is a wide gulf.”
Ajaero criticized governors who have claimed they cannot afford to pay the minimum wage, stating: “How can any governor say he cannot pay? They cannot also be calling for the decentralization of the minimum wage.” He pointed to the example of the Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, who is paying a N70,000 minimum wage, and said this is the type of governor that should be emulated.
The NLC President maintained a cautiously optimistic tone, stating that the organization is “hopeful that this President will do the right thing” regarding the minimum wage increase.