Federal workers are up in arms against the proposed minimum wage of N48,000 by the Federal Government, calling it nonsensical. The Trade Union Congress has strongly criticized the government’s offer, accusing them of not taking negotiations seriously.
TUC President, Festus Osifo, in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, expressed disdain for the proposal, stating, “It does not just make any sense.” He highlighted that the lowest-paid federal workers already earn up to N77,000, making the proposed N48,000 seem inadequate.
Osifo challenged the government to provide data supporting the proposed amount and explain how it would suffice for the average Nigerian worker’s needs. He emphasized the lack of preparedness on the government’s part, as they failed to justify the offer with any substantiated information.
The tension escalated when labor unions, dissatisfied with the government’s stance, walked out of the ongoing negotiations. Osifo revealed that during the meeting, the unions proposed a N615,000 minimum wage, backed by a detailed breakdown. In contrast, the government merely presented the N48,000 figure without any explanation of its feasibility for workers’ livelihoods.
Osifo reiterated the union’s stance that all discussions regarding a new national minimum wage must conclude by the end of May.
