The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, has lamented the impact of inflation on the N70,000 minimum wage approved by the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government.
He shared his thoughts while speaking at the quadrennial delegates conference of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Abuja.
While speaking, Ajaero lamented that electricity tariffs and taxes were well above the approved minimum wage.
“This is a period where the tax on your salaries is almost higher than the minimum wage increase on the salaries. It is a period we need to sit and reflect on our survival.
“What are those things that affect us most? The social safety nets that are obtainable in some developed economies of the world, and we need to fight for them.”
He noted that there remains a pressing need to examine how the minimum wage was implemented.
“Very important, the cost of living index. We need to look at it. How does it affect an average worker? How was the minimum wage the NLC, TUC, and others fought for implemented?”
He also lamented the rising cost of living throughout the country.
“The landlords and transporters have taken it all. The electricity tariff is more than our minimum wage, and the tariff on telecom is increasing by the day.”
He added that there is a need “for the organised labour unions to stand united and review their relationships with Nigerians and players in the civil society space, to collectively fight the numerous issues affecting workers.”
“It is a period we need to reenact our relationship with not just the trade union movement, but our civil society allies and the Nigerian masses.
“The NLC is extending its hand of fellowship to the TUC for us to work together hand in hand for the interest of the Nigerian people and workers,” he stated.
Nigerians generally have lamented the high cost of living under Bola Tinubu.
Many have argued that the value of the approved N70,000 has been significantly diminished due to inflationary tendencies.
