Minimum Wage: Why N30,000 Is Not Feasible – Presidency

The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Femi Adesina has given reason why the request of the civil servants to increase the minimum wage from N18,000 to N30,000 may not be feasible.

The Nigerian Labour Congress is rejecting the proposal of the federal government ton slightly improve the minimum wage to N24,000 instead of their requested N30,000.

While the presidential spokesman spoke over it on a Channels TV programme on Thursday, he said even the public office holders sacrifice their entire pay, that will not still make such minimum wage achievable.

He said even some governors are unable to pay the N18,000, not to talk of N30,000.

“So if they can’t pay N18,000 and labour is asking for N30,000 and they refuse to come lower, there may be a stalemate which will not be good for the country,” he said.

“I think in the spirit of negotiation, labour should not insist on N30,000.

Asked if the political class “especially members of the All Progressives Congress (APC)” agreeing to reduce their salaries will not make the new minimum wage demand possible, the presidential spokesman replied: “I doubt.”

“Even if they decide not to collect anything, it still doesn’t take care of N30,000 minimum wage; it doesn’t.

“Maybe if the members of the national assembly concede part of their salaries and allowances, it can make a dent on minimum wage. But other
office holders dont earn anything outrageous.”