We are not going back on our demand for N1 million minimum wage—NLC

The Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ogun State, Hammed Ademola-Benco, on Wednesday, said that there is no going back on the proposed N1m minimum wage for workers.

Ademola-Benco stated this while addressing journalists in Abeokuta, the state capital as the union ended the two-day protest called to demand that the Federal Government address the challenges of insecurity, hunger and the high cost of living in the country.

The state NLC chairman insisted that the national leadership of the union would not back down on its demands, particularly the N1m minimum wage.

The National President, NLC, Joe Ajaero, had stated that if the ongoing inflation continues unabated, organised labour might push for a new minimum wage of up to N1m for Nigerian workers.

Ajaero said the demand from organised labour would be influenced by the cost of living which has been increasing since President Bola Tinubu assumed office, notably due to the removal of fuel subsidy and other policies.

Members of the NLC had embarked on a nationwide protest over the economic hardship occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal, amongst others, before suspending it and thereafter, gave the FG a new two-week ultimatum.

Ajaero, however, stated on Wednesday that the labour union could not proceed with its two-day nationwide protest due to intimidation and threats.

Speaking with journalists at the union’s secretariat in Abeokuta, Ademola-Benco lamented that Nigerian workers are among the worst paid in the world.

He said, “N1m minimum wage was a product of dollarisation, so we are not withdrawing that, except until they (FG) explain to us why we have to shift ground. We are human beings, we are ready to shift ground.

“Because I can’t just imagine somebody working in Canada and earning 30 Canadian dollar per hour. If the Canadian dollar is N1,000, that means that person is taking N30,000 per hour and some people here are not earning up to N6,000 per eight hours.

“They must bring everything to the table and explain to us, convince us why we should not dollarise salary of workers in this country,” he added.

Ademola-Benco said the nationwide protest was successful despite the pulling out by its sister union, Trade Union Congress and other affiliates.