Nigeria’s Minimum Wage in Numeric Terms: N125 in 1981 to Over N 490k in Demand by 2024

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared an indefinite statewide strike that will begin on Monday, June 3, 2024, in protest to the Federal Government’s refusal to increase the suggested minimum pay above N60,000. The labor unions submitted a new proposal of N494,000 because they considered the government’s final offer of N60,000—which had increased from an earlier offer of N57,000—to be insufficient.

In Nigeria, the idea of a minimum wage originated in the 1950s. 1954 saw the first minimum pay policy put in place by Western Region Premier late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The minimum pay paid to Western Nigerian employees doubled that paid in other areas. This first pay policy established a standard and spurred continuous debates on equitable wages throughout the nation.

After Nigeria gained its freedom in 1960, the national minimum wage movement persisted. Awolowo, then Action Group President, ran fervent campaigns in 1959 for a five-pound minimum pay for government employees. Though he lost the 1959 elections to Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the question of a national minimum wage remained a major political priority.

Related Posts

Driven by the campaigning of the Nigerian Labour Congress under Hassan Sunmonu, President Shehu Shagari passed the first National Minimum Wage Law in September 1981. The legislation established a minimum pay of 125 naira a month, which at the time equated to about US$204.

The minimum pay has changed multiple times throughout years:

2000: rose to N5,500.

2011: Under President Goodluck Jonathan it came to N18,000.

2019: President Muhammadu Buhari signed the National Minimum Wage Act creating a monthly pay of N30,000.

The federal government established a tripartite committee with 37 members to examine the National Minimum Wage in January 2024. Still, the group has not decided upon anything. The government has a deadline of May 31 set by the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) for the new pay policy establishment. At least N60,000 is the minimum pay the unions demand.

New minimum salaries have been unilaterally announced by several states For instance, Lagos State has been paying a pay award of N35,000 since January 2024 whereas Edo State approved a new salary of N70,000 starting May 1, 2024.

Alexander

Recent Posts

South African Group Petitions For Chidimma Adetshina’s Removal FromInternational Miss Universe Pageant Over Identity Fraud Allegations

A group called Progressive Forces in South Africa has launched a petition against MissUniverse Nigeria Chidimma Adetshina, with the aim…

November 5, 2024

Mauritius Reopens Social MediaAccess in Response to PublicPressure

Mauritius on Saturday overruled its decision to prohibit social media until the election onNovember 10th which was caused by a…

November 5, 2024

UAE Crown Prince Arrives in Ethiopia for WorldWithout Hunger Conference

The UAE’s Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed AlNahyan was in Addis Ababa…

November 5, 2024

Zimbabwe’s rich (Mbingas) linked to state looting

Gilbert Machokoto, a former teacher, said that setting up a business in the late 1980s, shortlyafter Zimbabwe's independence, was ‘like…

November 4, 2024

Historic Shift in Botswana as PresidentConcedes to Opposition Victory

Following elections in which the party that had ruled the diamond-rich nation for almost 60years suffered a historic setback. Botswana's…

November 4, 2024

Lightning Strike at Uganda Refugee CampClaims 14 Lives, Including Children

A lightning strike at a refugee camp in Uganda kills 14 people including children with 34 othershospitalized. The incident happened…

November 4, 2024

This website uses cookies.