By Kenechukwu Aguolu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during his speech on Democracy Day, June 12, 2024, mentioned that the bill on the new national minimum wage would soon be forwarded to the National Assembly One would have thought that by now it would have been resolved.
However, to the dismay and frustration of many, the matter still lingers. The matter was stepped down at the Federal Executive Council to allow the government further consult with stakeholders. Critics have begun to question the Federal Government’s commitment.
State governors have requested to be allowed to negotiate minimum wages with labour unions in their states using the cost of living in each state and the financial capacity of each state as parameters. This approach is used in some countries as financial strengths vary across states.
This request was not well-received by the organised labour; who argued that the governors don’t have the power to negotiate the minimum wage. It is public knowledge that some state governments did not pay the N30,000 minimum wage for years; citing an inability to pay.
The Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of many states is low; a situation worsened by the increasing insecurity. Nonetheless, while the Federal Government continues to tackle the country’s security challenges, state governments should work on improving their IGR, eliminating, waste, and prioritizing workers’ welfare.
One would wonder when Nigerian workers will begin to receive the new national minimum wage, given that an amount has yet to be agreed upon. Any amount agreed still requires approval by the Federal Executive Council, passage of the New Minimum Wage Bill by the National Assembly, and finally, assent by the President.
Only then can the new minimum wage be implemented. Where adequate provision was not made in the Budget, a supplementary budget will be required The timeline for this process remains uncertain.
An increase in the National Minimum wage would be beneficial to the nation as it would boost workers reduce brain drain and stimulate economic activities. Many businesses are struggling as household consumption has dropped drastically due to the low purchasing power of workers.
Skilled professionals have left Nigeria in drones in search of greener pastures Better wages would also reduce financial pressure, which sometimes pushes people into criminal activities, and motivate workers to be more productive, which include our security agents. Therefore it will aid in reducing insecurity and increasing the Country’s Gross Domestic Product in the long run.
The organized private sector should also recognize that a wage hike would positively impact them by increasing innovation and productivity, reducing staff turnover, and decreasing the temptation for staff to commit fraud. Multinational companies understand the benefits of paying employees well.
To get the best from employees, they need to feel cared for, and there needs to be an alignment between the strategic goals of the organization and the personal goals/needs of the employees for organizational success.
Rhetoric is good, but it must be matched with deliberate action. The welfare of the citizens is one of the core responsibilities of the government.
Therefore, the federal government, which is in the driver’s seat in the minimum wage negotiation, should expedite the negotiation process as workers are frustrated and struggling to survive; unable to cater for their basic needs like food, rent, hospital bills, and school fees.
While striving for a living wage, organised labour should also be reasonable in its demands and acknowledge the financial capacity of the organized private sector and federal, state, and local governments. The Nigerian economy is not at its best, and thus government and business finances are constrained. The goal should be to achieve the best affordable and sustainable wage.
While wide consultation is critical, there is a need to expedite the process. A hike in the minimum wage will benefit workers, the government, the organized private sector, and the nation at large. The welfare of the citizens is a critical role of the government. The Federal Government should therefore match its words with action. The time is now.