From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
Contrary to expectations that it will be a clinching of glasses and celebration among the workforce in Nigeria as President Bola Tinubu and the two major labor centers —the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) finally pegged the new minimum wage at ₦70,000, as it has generated mixed reactions from Nigerians.
Findings by Peoples Daily Weekend, revealed that both the public workforce and other stakeholders in the society expressed mixed feelings over the development.
According to Bashir Ahmed, a civil servant in Kaduna State, his expectations have been cut short, because the least he expected from how the matter was presented was 150,000 Maura, an amount that shortens his budget.
He, however, commended the NLC leaders for their stand towards the betterment of Nigerian workers.
Similarly, Hajiya Ummi Abubakar, a director with a federal parastatal applauded President Tinubu for being bold enough to increase the minimum wage from 30-50 percent even though, short of expectations.
In his reaction, Barrister Benedict Kure said the negotiation and approval of the new minimum wage have demonstrated that Court action and demonstration will not give the best result but dialogue will resolve any issue amicably.
He urged the Federal government, organized labor, and Nigerians to follow the path of dialogue in addressing any issue.
But in a sharp contrast to the development, Obale Ahmed, a trader along Waff Road said there’s nothing to celebrate, because the beneficiaries of the minimum wage are just minimal workers, compared to the larger number of the society.
A motorist, who pleaded anonymity said traders who have been hoarding products will now sell for a higher rate because of the new increase.
He therefore advised that the federal government should not stop at only the increment but also establish a price regulation workforce that will work against intending inflation set up by traders.
For Comrade Abdul Bako was blunt to say, “No Nigerian will survive with N70,000 as minimum wage. With the current cost of living it’s impossible to survive on N70,000 as minimum wage.
“The landing cost of premium motor spirit (PMS) is N1,220. How are they going to sell a liter of fuel in the market? These are questions that Nigerians should be asking.”
“If N70,000 takes you to the office, what do you eat? I don’t know what Tinubu thinks. He is intentionally punishing Nigerians.
“We don’t mind if he reverses the fuel subsidy and leaves the minimum wage the way it was because everything that Nigerians are facing currently is as a result of the minimum wage and that is why Nigerians have found themselves in this quagmire.”
According to him, “To be very honest people can no longer feed themselves three times a day. I don’t think the issue of N70,000 minimum wage is what the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) will agree to.”
“It’s only if they have compromised. Maybe they’ve promised them something and they’ve compromised. To us, it’s not acceptable and we think that it should be reviewed upwards. At least labor should not accept anything less than N150,000.”
Not left out, the Team Lead of the Kaduna Local Government Accountability Mechanism (KadLGAM,), Mr. Yusuf Goje said: “The new minimum wage of N70,000 agreed by the Federal government and organized labor unions falls short of public expectations. This is because it is not in tandem with the current cost of living.
“Nonetheless, it is over a hundred percent improvement on the current N30,000 being paid. Also, considering that it is now subject to review every three years instead of five years. The increase has both its pros and cons. On the positive side, this will in a way boost economic activities due to the increased spending power of the people.
“On the flip side, the increase may not be enough to tackle the inflation and cost of living crisis facing many of the citizens. Let’s not also forget that some States and the Organized Private Sector (OPS) may not be able to pay the new minimum wage.
“What is more important is that the government should fix the economy. We want to see inflation come down to a single digit, especially food items, and the value of the naira restored to compete favorably with the dollar. This is the only way the new minimum wage will translate to improved household expenditure and consumption.”
