Instead of waiting for the next review of the national minimum wage, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has demanded that the federal government raise compensation for federal workers immediately.
During a news conference following Wednesday’s meeting of the TUC’s National Administrative Executive Council in Abuja, TUC President Festus Osifo made the announcement.
Instead than waiting for a new Minimum Wage Act, Osifo claimed the government could increase workers’ wages.
He went on to say that while the federal government and businesses are both legally obligated to pay a certain minimum wage to their employees, it shouldn’t stop them from paying more.
According to Osifo, there’s no need to wait for a new Minimum Wage Act to make workers’ lives better. By adjusting the pay structure upwards, the federal government can raise the incomes of its lowest-paid staff. Osifo stated that many private sector businesses currently pay more than the statutory minimum, especially for employees with specialist skills and more responsibility.
He gave the examples of financial institutions, food and drink manufacturers, and oil and gas corporations.
As far as he could tell, their pay was more closely tied to the worth of their work than to the federal minimum wage.
The head of the TUC also suggested that, apart from the minimum wage, the government may examine workers’ allowances.
Among the government officials that the union had met with, according to Osifo, were the Minister of Finance and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to discuss ways to better the lives of workers.
“He pleaded with the government to alleviate workers’ economic burdens immediately, instead of postponing it until the next minimum wage review,” Osifo stated.