The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has firmly opposed the proposal by state governors to independently set wages for their workers, labeling the suggestion as dictatorial and contrary to the principles of the national minimum wage.
During a meeting in Abeokuta, the Southern Governors’ Forum released a communique advocating for states to negotiate wages based on their financial capacities and living costs. The forum argued that allowing each state to set its minimum wage would reflect local economic conditions better.
The Nigerian Governors’ Forum, representing the 36 states, also expressed commitment to ongoing wage negotiations, promising improved pay for workers.
Reacting to these developments, the NLC issued a stern warning to the governors against making further provocative statements regarding the minimum wage, which could incite industrial unrest. The NLC’s statement, signed by Mr. Benson Upah, Head of Information and Public Affairs, emphasized that the union might be compelled to take industrial action if the issue persists.
The NLC called on President Bola Tinubu to uphold his promise of a living wage, superior to the minimum wage, and not to succumb to pressure from governors. The statement emphasized that the national minimum wage is a fundamental agreement ensuring a baseline standard of living for all workers and should not be compromised.
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The NLC highlighted that while states have the flexibility to structure individual pay scales, this should not undermine the national minimum wage. The union criticized the governors’ inconsistent stance, pointing out that political officeholders receive uniform salaries nationwide, set by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission.
Furthermore, the NLC expressed concern over the governors’ apparent ignorance of global best practices for national minimum wage standards. The union urged governors to educate themselves on industrial relations and governance principles to better serve the Nigerian populace.
Commending progressive-minded governors who prioritize workers’ welfare, the NLC vowed to continue collaborating with such leaders. The union warned that the current pursuit by many governors to pay arbitrary wages exacerbates poverty and insecurity, undermining social stability.
The NLC underscored the economic importance of workers’ salaries, which drive local economies, and criticized the view of these wages as mere charity. The union urged the federal government to take decisive action on the national minimum wage and resist any dictatorial tendencies from the governors.
