Why N70,000 Became the New Minimum Wage: Insights from NLC President Joe Ajaero

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) recently accepted the N70,000 minimum wage proposal from President Bola Tinubu, marking a significant increase from the current N30,000. NLC President Joe Ajaero shed light on the reasons behind this decision during a press briefing at the Presidential Villa.

According to Ajaero, the acceptance of the N70,000 minimum wage was not solely based on the wage increase itself, but rather on a combination of factors. One of the key reasons was the government’s commitment to reviewing the minimum wage every three years, a more frequent review period than in the past. This promise played a significant role in the NLC’s decision to accept the offer.

In addition to the wage increase and the promise of more frequent reviews, the government also offered other incentives to the NLC. These incentives, although not explicitly detailed, were significant enough to sway the NLC’s decision in favor of the N70,000 minimum wage.

Ajaero also mentioned that the government’s role in ensuring local government autonomy and the need for a compassionate approach towards university unions, particularly SSANU and NASU, were taken into consideration. The government’s commitment to addressing the needs of these unions played a part in the NLC’s acceptance of the N70,000 minimum wage.

President Tinubu’s announcement of the N70,000 minimum wage was met with mixed feelings by the NLC. However, the combination of the wage increase, the promise of more frequent reviews, and the additional incentives offered by the government ultimately led to the NLC’s acceptance of the proposal.

The N70,000 minimum wage is set to replace the N30,000 minimum wage, pending approval by the National Assembly. The new minimum wage, along with the promise of more frequent reviews, is expected to improve the standard of living for Nigerian workers and their families.