Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has urged the leadership of organized labor to adopt a resolute stance in their negotiations with the federal government regarding the new minimum wage. Frank’s call comes on the heels of rumors suggesting that the government may be considering a meager N105,000 as the new minimum wage.
In a strongly worded statement released in Abuja, Frank accused the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration of perpetuating double standards in salary fixing, where judicial officeholders are privileged over Nigerian workers. He pointed to the recent 300 percent increase in judicial officers’ salaries, passed by the Judiciary, as a stark example of this disparity.
Frank argued that if the government can prioritize the welfare of judicial officers, it should similarly consider a decent wage for Nigerian workers, who are grappling with the harsh realities of the country’s socio-economic landscape. He emphasized that any amount below N250,000 would be unacceptable, given the prevailing economic conditions.
Frank also drew attention to a recent Bill proposed by President Tinubu to the National Assembly, which seeks a 300 percent increase in salaries and allowances for Supreme Court Justices, Appeal Court Justices, and other high-ranking judicial officials. The Bill, which has been expedited through both chambers of the National Assembly, awaits the President’s assent to become law.
By highlighting this disparity, Frank aimed to underscore the government’s apparent prioritization of the interests of the judiciary over those of the working class. His statement serves as a clarion call to organized labor to remain steadfast in their pursuit of a fair minimum wage, one that reflects the true value of Nigerian workers’ contributions to the nation’s economy.
