The Lagos State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has reacted to the recent minimum wage increase announced by the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
According to the union, they do not have a choice but to accept the proposed ₦85,000 since it is not below the minimum wage.
This was made known by the Chairperson of the NLC in the state, Agnes Funmi during an interview on Wednesday.
She revealed that the union expects the government to provide more infrastructure to help cushion the effect of the hardship on workers in the state.
Funmi hailed the Babajide Sanwo-Olu government for providing alternative transportation systems in the state.
Furthermore, she called on the government to consider the provision of affordable housing for workers in the state.
The union, however, noted that it may reject the proposed minimum wage if another state offers a higher amount than the state.
She said, “Since he is not paying anything below the minimum, we don’t have a choice but to accept, because they also said they have other competing interests like they have their facilities being overstretched because of the population.
“The reason we agree to the ₦85,000 for now is that we also want the governor to provide infrastructure. We have infrastructure like the rail services.
“We can even put our vehicles at home and enter the rail. It (the minimum wage) is the highest for now.”
“But if there is any state that will declare more than ₦85,000 tomorrow, we will reject that N85,000. We accept it because we have seen that the government is doing so much infrastructure for now. They are providing rail lines and alternative transportation systems.
“We are also dialoguing and discussing with the government on the provision of affordable housing for workers.”
“We want to tell the government that if tomorrow there is any state that declares more than ₦85,000, we will reject it in totality.”
Investors King reported that the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during an interview on Wednesday announced a new minimum wage of ₦85,000 for civil servants in the state.
The governor, who spoke during the program titled “One-On-One with Babajide Sanwo-Olu”, emphasized the possibility of another increase by January.
Sanwo-Olu said, “I’m glad to let you know that the minimum wage for Lagos which we’ve discussed with our union is ₦85,000 today. It’s not a competition, so I’m not going to say that we’re paying more than some other people, it’s a function of affordability and a function of capacity.
“We actually increased our salary earlier in the year and it’s deserving for our staff, and we’ll continue to do that.
“Seun, I will want to come back to you in January and say that I’ve been able to increase the minimum wage of Lagos to ₦100,000. (This is) not because I want to make anybody look bad, it’s really because I want my people to have a living wage.”
