The Nigeria Labour Congress has firmly rejected the Southern Governors Forum’s recent proposal that individual states should be allowed to determine their own minimum wages for workers.
The NLC argues that this suggestion undermines the foundational principles of a national minimum wage and threatens to disrupt industrial harmony.
On Thursday, the Southern Governors Forum, which met in Abeokuta, Ogun State, issued a communique advocating for a model where each state negotiates its own minimum wage based on local economic conditions. The Forum’s position was that the minimum wage should reflect the varying costs of living across different states, allowing for state-specific negotiations between labor and state governments.
The Southern Governors’ Forum’s proposal comes at a time when the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, representing all 36 states, has pledged to stay committed to the ongoing national minimum wage negotiations, with the promise of achieving better wages through these discussions.
In response, the NLC issued a statement condemning the governors’ proposal, warning that such moves could lead to increased industrial unrest. The statement, signed by the Head of Information and Public Affairs for the NLC, Benson Upah, stressed that the idea of allowing states to set their own minimum wages is not only dictatorial but also contradicts the very concept of a national minimum wage.
The NLC’s statement highlighted that the national minimum wage serves as a baseline standard for worker compensation, ensuring a minimum level of income across the country.
“NLC is compelled to address the recent statements made by some Nigerian Governors regarding their desire to pay what they deem fit to Nigerian workers as the minimum wage. This notion is not only dictatorial but also undermines the very essence as well as the model adopted for creating a national minimum wage in Nigeria,” the statement read.
The NLC criticized the proposal as a threat to workers’ welfare and national economic stability, pointing out that the national minimum wage was designed to provide a baseline income that ensures a minimum standard of living for all workers. The statement emphasized that this baseline is crucial for protecting workers from exploitation and maintaining national economic stability.
Furthermore, the NLC challenged the inconsistency of the governors’ argument by comparing it to the uniform salaries of political officeholders, determined by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.
“Why is there no hue and cry when political officeholders across the nation receive uniform salaries as determined by Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission? This double standards which pits a few privileged against the majority poor is an issue that should be of concern to those who love this country,” the NLC stated.
The NLC also accused the governors of failing to educate themselves on global best practices for minimum wage policies and recommended that they seek further education on industrial relations. The statement urged President Bola Tinubu to resist any attempts at coercion from governors and to uphold his commitment to a living wage, which goes beyond the minimum wage to ensure fair compensation for workers.
In conclusion, the NLC reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for a fair and equitable wage system and called on the governors to support policies that promote economic justice and social stability.
“We urge President Tinubu who had promised a living wage (which is superior to a minimum wage) not to allow himself to be blackmailed or boxed into a corner by unpatriotic governors,” the NLC said, emphasizing that a fair minimum wage is essential for maintaining democracy and national cohesion.
