NLC Demands Senators and Governors Earn Under Minimum Wage

Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has stressed the need for fair and transparent wages for Nigerian workers.

Speaking at the 67th Annual General Meeting in Lagos on Tuesday, Ajaero implied a large gap between the salaries of senators and the minimum wage of ordinary workers.

He urged lawmakers to understand the struggles of those living on minimum wage.

Ajaero’s call comes as the cost of living continues to rise, making it hard for minimum-wage workers to meet their basic needs.

He asked for support from the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) to push for better wages, noting that this issue is about more than just numbers—it’s about what workers can buy with their earnings.

“Fair wages are not just about social justice; they help increase worker productivity and benefit employers,” Ajaero said. “When workers have more purchasing power, they spend more, which helps businesses with their inventory issues.”

Support from NECA for Better Wages

Ajaero reiterated the NLC’s long-time push for higher minimum wages, arguing that putting more money in workers’ hands would help the economy and businesses. He expressed disappointment that NECA had not fully supported this initiative, emphasizing that the goal is to ensure business survival, not to hurt it.

“We urge NECA members to join us in our quest for a national minimum wage that removes deep poverty among workers. We must push for wages that do not leave workers in starvation,” he declared. “Increasing wages is the only way to break the current consumer resistance and align with government policies aimed at improving the economy.”

Ajaero criticized the practice of giving handouts to Nigerians, advocating instead for sustainable wage increases. He proposed a national minimum wage of N250,000, acknowledging it as a significant demand but necessary for improving workers’ lives.

With the ongoing discussions in the House of Representatives and the Senate on decentralizing wages, Ajaero stressed that, according to International Labour Organization (ILO) standards, minimum wage legislation should be a national issue.

He called for the inclusion of political officeholders’ wages under the minimum wage law to ensure transparency and fairness.

“You cannot be a senator earning below the minimum wage and not legislate for better wages. We should know what our leaders earn,” he asserted.

“If everyone, including governors, is brought under the wage system, it will create accountability and reduce excessive spending.”

NLC Stands Against “Slave Wages”

Ajaero suggested that the House of Representatives and the Senate operate on a part-time basis to reduce costs, allowing professionals to continue their primary jobs while serving in the legislature.

He warned that if governors and National Assembly members succeed in deregulating the minimum wage, organized labour would shut down the country for a month.

Ajaero emphasized that Nigeria, having ratified ILO Convention 131, must uphold the principle of a national minimum wage.

“As a joint committee deliberates on removing Section 34 from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List, allowing state governors to set wages, we cannot allow such a law to pass,” he cautioned. “If this happens, NLC will ensure there is no movement for a month.”

Ajaero concluded by reaffirming that organized labor will not tolerate the imposition of “slave wages” and poverty on Nigerian workers, vowing to resist any such attempts.