Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has voiced his dissatisfaction with the federal government’s recent announcement of a 35% pay rise for civil servants, labeling it as “mischievous.” During an interview on Channels Television, Ajaero emphasized that the focus should be on establishing a living wage, which he believes should amount to N615,000.
The federal government’s decision to approve a pay rise, ranging from 25 to 35 percent across various consolidated salary structures, comes amidst discussions regarding the expiration of the previous minimum wage of N30,000 on April 18. Ajaero expressed concern over the delay in finalizing discussions on a new minimum wage, highlighting the government’s failure to reconvene meetings.
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Ajaero outlined the components of the proposed living wage, including housing and accommodation, electricity, utilities, food, medical expenses, education, clothing, sanitation, and transportation. He stressed the importance of a living wage that enables workers to sustain themselves and their families without falling into poverty or resorting to borrowing.
With a breakdown totaling N615,000, Ajaero urged further scrutiny of the proposed living wage, emphasizing its necessity for ensuring the well-being and financial stability of civil servants across Nigeria.
