Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, the opposition leader in the House of Representatives, has made a bold statement asserting that no Nigerian labourer can subsist on a monthly income of less than N100,000. This declaration, echoing the sentiments of many, underscores the pressing need for a revised minimum wage structure that aligns with the current socio-economic realities within the nation.
According to reporters, in a recent parliamentary session, Chinda, alongside 41 lawmakers representing the 36 states of the federation and Abuja, tabled a motion advocating for urgent deliberations on the implementation of a living wage. This initiative seeks to address the growing disparity between the cost of living and the earning capacity of Nigerian workers, a concern that has deeply troubled legislators.
Expressing the collective concern of lawmakers, Chinda remarked, "No lawmaker today in Nigeria is happy about the situation in the country. That's why we're pushing for a living wage for all Nigerian workers. The take-home pay cannot take the worker home. We are very disturbed by the turn of events."
The motion cited alarming statistics, including a report by Trade Economics in 2018, which estimated the living wage for an individual Nigerian and a Nigerian family at N43,200 per month and N137,600, respectively, prior to subsidy removal. However, in light of current economic conditions, Chinda emphasized that no labourer can adequately sustain themselves in Nigeria with a monthly wage below N100,000.
Furthermore, Chinda referenced a World Bank report highlighting the adverse impact of high inflation on purchasing power and poverty levels across the country. In response to these challenges, the House of Representatives has activated resolutions aimed at addressing the minimum wage issue, with an ad hoc committee tasked with expediting the process and transmitting outcomes to the Senate for concurrence.
Meanwhile, amidst ongoing debates over the new minimum wage, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has proposed a figure of N794,000 as the minimum wage for workers in the South-West geopolitical zone. This proposal, presented by Funmi Sessi, the chairperson of the Lagos State chapter of the NLC, underscores the urgency of addressing wage disparities and ensuring equitable compensation for workers nationwide.
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