I understand the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress are pooh-poohing the Nigerian government’s offer of a minimum wage and insisting on the sacred 615,000 naira.
Great, isn’t it?
If I were the government, I would borrow to even pay 1 million naira as minimum wage.
I wouldn’t think the labour leaders are conversant with the current prices of commodities in the markets. If they were, they would have known that the amount of minimum wage is not, can not and will never be an issue.
The issue will always be the naira’s worth in the international market. If a country’s imports outstrip its exports, that country’s currency is in very grave danger, except in special circumstances.
So, what is labour doing to urge the government to resuscitate the moribund industries in Nigeria? I know quite well that they are not in power, but then have there been any protests by them?
Another issue is whether the labour keeps records. If they do, what is the history of salary increases in Nigeria? Is it not a fact that workers in unofficial labour are waiting for salaried workers to get their minimum wage?
Everything would change from inflation to hyperinflation.
Is the labour concerned about the wastage in government?
As long as we don’t bring workers from unofficial labour into the realm of the minimum wage, we can never rest with a minimum wage.
