Opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives have lamented the living wage of Nigerian workers, stating that they are underpaid, News About Nigeria reports.
The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, stated this on Tuesday, following the suspension of the strike by organised labour.
Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC,) embarked on a nationwide strike on Monday, June 3, 2024, to drive home its demand for an increased minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
Organised labour, comprised of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), demanded N494,000 minimum wage instead of the N60,000 proposed by the Federal Government.
Reacting to this, Chinda said that the workers in the country are not being compensated enough for their work, adding that the current times are hard, which makes it difficult to survive on a wage of N33,000.
He noted that failure to pay a living wage was a constitutional breach.
He also proposed that an hourly wage payment be considered for workers in the country.
“In Nigeria today, any wage below $200 (N298,800) is ridiculous. The Nigerian worker is heavily underpaid, and it is the responsibility of the government to ensure the security and welfare of its citizens. Failure to pay a living wage is unconstitutional, as the welfare of citizens is neglected.
“Public and government officers should have their monthly wages while we consider the hourly rate for private or casual employees. The earlier the government concludes this matter with labour unions, the better,” he stated.
He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to implement a new minimum wage of more than N100,000 to assuage organised labour.
