Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and
Publicity, Femi Adesina, says the N30, 000 minimum wage the leadership of the
Nigerian Labour Congress NLC is clamouring for at the moment, is not feasible
even if all public office holders are asked to contribute their monthly income
for this purpose.
Adesina who was a guest on Channels TV today to speak on
national issues, was asked to speak on the lingering faceoff between the
Federal government and NLC over an increase in minimum wage. He said it is
unfortunate that some state governors cannot pay the N18, 000 minimum wage at
the moment and so asking them to pay N 30, 000 as minimum wage is quite
ridiculous.
“So if they can’t pay N18,000 and labour is asking for
N30,000 and they refuse to come lower, there may be a stalemate which will not
be good for the country. I think in the spirit of negotiation, labour should not
insist on N30,000'' he said
Asked if the political class “especially members of the All
Progressives Congress (APC)” agreeing to reduce their salaries will not make
the new minimum wage demand possible, Adesina replied
“I doubt. Even if they decide not to collect anything, it
still doesn’t take care of N30,000 minimum wage; it doesn’t. Maybe if the
members of the national assembly concede part of their salaries and allowances,
it can make a dent on minimum wage. But other office holders dont earn anything
outrageous.”
The Labour Unions have agreed to go on a national strike on
November 6th if the government fails to adopt the N30, 000 minimum wage.
