18,000 Minimum Wage: NUJ joins call to increase Nigerian workers Wage

The Chairman of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, on Sunday called for an urgent upward review of the national minimum wage.

Mr. Osakwe made the observation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Auchi, as part of activities to mark this year’s Workers’ Day.

His call comes days after the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress asked the federal government to increase the minimum wage to N56,000.

The journalist described the current national minimum wage of N18, 000 as “a non-living wage, which was now too small to accommodate the daily needs of workers.”

He said that the N18, 000 minimum wage was no longer realistic, because of the high cost of living in the country.

“The N18, 000 minimum wage is not in tune with the current economic realities.

“Increasing the minimum wage of workers will adequately cater for the needs of the workers,” he said.

The NUJ official, therefore, urged the National Assembly and the Executive arm of Government to carry out a periodic upward review of the minimum wage in the country, to keep it in pace with economy realities.

“The National Assembly should as a matter of urgency, carry out a periodic upward review of workers’ salaries in the country.

“The present N18, 000 minimum wage has been consumed by the high cost of living, hence the need for an upward review,” he added.

According to the National Minimum Wage Act, the national minimum wage is to be reviewed every five years.

The current N18, 000 national minimum wage law was enacted in 2011.

(NAN)