No going back on N615,000 minimum wage - NLC President Joe Ajaero declares

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero believes states will not stutter to pay the proposed N615,000 minimum wage.

The various labour unions across the country proposed the N615,000 monthly salary for workers, a jump from the current N30,000. They believe the proposal is realistic as the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of the foreign exchange market have pushed the cost of living to newer levels. Inflation figures have hit 33.2 percent in March, further compounding a troubled economy.

The union and the federal government have been in locked negotiations over measures including a new minimum wage to cushion the impacts of the economy.

Speaking in an interview on Channels TV Politics Today on Thursday, April 3, Ajaero said “Well, I think we need to understand the issue of ability to pay and the issue of not getting the priority right now.”

He continued: “Most of the states that have shown a willingness to pay are not among those that are getting the highest revenue. Even during the time of General Muhammadu Buhari, some states were declared as not having enough money to pay and he released funds for them to pay, those states still went ahead and refused to pay.

“Now, it’s not a question of whether the quantum of money they have or not is what they decide to do with such money. If they get their priority right, then a lot can happen.”

The unionist who suggested states should go into mechanised agriculture among others, believe self-sufficiency in food production will help Nigeria fight the biting economy.

“Remember I told you before that if we do what we are supposed to do in terms of what is expected of us as a government and as people and we’re able to check inflation, check all other indices; check the cost of foodstuff; go into massive agriculture; have a kind of self-sufficiency in the nation, then we will pay less attention to the quantum to hundreds and of millions and thousands,” Ajaero said.