The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has stated that governors can afford to pay the proposed ₦615,000 minimum wage if they prioritize correctly. Ajaero made this assertion during an interview with Channels Television on Thursday.
Responding to a question about the realism of the organised labour’s proposal of ₦615,000, Ajaero argued that the amount is the “most realistic” considering the inflation in the country. He emphasized that factors like transportation, housing, and feeding were taken into account before arriving at the newly-proposed minimum wage.
Ajaero stated, “If you are talking about being realistic, the ₦615,000 demand is the most realistic. Being realistic is not about a slave wage. However, ₦30,000 is big money if inflation is brought down, and at a single digit. Look at the indices that create inflation. If you check them, you can talk about being realistic. All other factors in the country are going high, and wages remain constant.”
When asked if states can afford the ₦615,000 proposal, the NLC president asserted that it is not about the ability to pay but rather the priorities of states. He stated, “I think we need to understand the issues of ability to pay and not getting the priority right. Most of the states that have shown willingness to pay the current minimum wage are not among those getting the highest revenue.”
Ajaero recalled a previous scenario during the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari when some states were declared to lack sufficient funds to pay salaries. He noted that funds were released to these states, but they still refused to pay. He emphasized that it is not solely about the quantum of money available to the states but also about what they decide to do with such funds.
He concluded, “If they get their priorities right, then a lot can happen.”
