LAGOS, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Proposals for new minimum wage hike involving representatives from the worker unions, employer organizations, the central and state governments have triggered heated debates in Nigeria.
Labor leaders are asking the federal government to increase the national minimum wage from 18,000 naira (50.07 U.S. dollars) to 56,000 naira (155.77 dollars).
The workforce said the development became imperative following the current economic realities especially the high rate of inflation in the country.
The 18,000 naira minimum wage was approved when the naira was exchanging at 145 naira to the dollar. The minimum wage has been 18,000 for over eight years.
The naira had been marked by over 100 percent depreciation in value as it was now exchanging above 360 naira to the dollar at the parallel market.
The organized labor has accused the government of stalling the negotiation by failing to mention a figure as a new minimum wage for the Nigerian workers.
On Wednesday, the labor also issued the government 14 days, insisting that the tripartite committee on the new national minimum wage conclude its work within the stipulated time frame.
Reacting to the 14-day ultimatum, Chris Ngige, minister of labor and employment, described the threat as a subtle blackmail to stampede the tripartite committee.
He added that the government had requested that the state governors give a tentative figure, noting that they had not yet been able to make available.
The minister told reporters in Abuja, Nigeria's capital that the government delegation had written, as a committee, to the state governments and had also followed it up with visits and is still awaiting for their response.
On his part, Ayuba Wabba, Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) president, said the committee was not pleased with the comments alleged to have been made by the Minister of Labor and Employment Chris Ngige.
Ngige had last week said that the committee should adjourn indefinitely to give room for further consultations with the government.
In the same vein, Joe Ajaero, president of the United Labor Congress (ULC), said issues concerning the minimum wage has been concluded and that the committee was expecting government representative to pronounce their own figure.
Ajaero, however, refused to give a likely figure that could be approved as minimum wage and also did not give a clear answer on whether government was sincere on paying the new wage.
He said the call for a new minimum wage became necessary because it was already overdue, and in view of the increasing cost of goods and services.
Ita Enang, the senior special assistant to the president on national assembly matters, reassured workers of the commitment of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari's administration to an increase in the minimum wage.
Enang spoke in response to alleged lack of commitment by the federal government to an upward review of the minimum wage, which has been 18, 000 naira for over eight years.
The presidential aide said the government was already working towards achieving that by encouraging its agencies and parastatals to employ young and qualified Nigerians.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had on May Day while addressing Nigerian workers at the Eagle Square said the implementation of the new minimum wage would begin in September.
Also, the NLC president had on Sept. 10 said both the government and labor agreed that the September timeline must be respected.
