No Governor Can Pay N66,500 Minimum Wage- Rauf Aregbesola

The Osun State governor , who also doubles as Chairman, Technical Sub-Committee of the Tripartite Committee on national minimum wage, has advised workers and the organized labour to remain realistic with their demands, as the new proposed minimum wage of 66,500 is unrealistic and not in tandem with the existing economic realities in the country.

He gave the advice at the public hearing on national minimum wage held at the National Universities Commission auditorium in Abuja on Thursday.

Recall that workers in the country under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) had been agitating for a new minimum wage to check rising inflation on their monthly earnings. They are asking the Federal Government to shore up the national minimum wage from N18,000 to N66,500.

The NLC in its presentation argued that N66, 500 is fair enough for a government that is serious about the welfare of workers to implement.

Recently when the country was hit by the recession, most states governors were unable to pay the current minimum wage of N18,000.

Aregbesola said the task of the committee couldn’t be adequately carried out without the due consultation which this public hearing provides.

He said, “We have all along been concentrating on the cost of living which is also important. However, in your contribution, let us also look at productivity index so as to get the best for the economy. By so doing, we will be enriching the outcome of this debate and making it less controversial and more amenable to implementation.