- The former lawmaker maintained that the government had what it takes to pay a reasonable minimum wage
Former Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, says the Nigerian government has what it takes to pay a decent living wage to workers in the country.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Friday, Sani implored the Federal Government to address the lingering issue of minimum wage with the organised labour.
The organised labour had proposed a minimum wage of N615,000, saying it’s the amount workers in the country need to earn in order to weather the storm of galloping inflation and high cost of living.
On Wednesday, it pulled out of negotiations with the federal government and organised private sector after they both offered to pay 48,000 and 50,000 respectively as the new minimum wage.
Speaking on the protracted situation, Sani said no Nigerian worker can survive on less than N100,000 given the current socioeconomic reality in the country.
The former lawmaker maintained that the government had what it takes to pay a reasonable minimum wage, adding that a living wage for the labourers was not a bad idea.
He said, “I don’t know how a Nigerian can survive with less than N100,000. If you break down what the government is offering N45,000-48,000, you will see how unrealistic it is by the time you factor in many things. The position taken by labour should be considered by the government.
“It is one thing agreeing to increase the minimum wage and then the capacity to pay. Let us not forget that in the last few years, the government has been finding it difficult to even pay the ones that they already have on paper, so how this could be reflected should be considered.
“But from what we have learnt since the withdrawal of subsidy, the government has more money and there’s no better way to effectively and productively spend it than to increase the minimum wage of Nigerian workers to a reasonable point where he can adequately take care of his family”
He also said government at all levels have not instilled confidence and trust in the people through their actions as they continue to luxuriate on public funds while harping on the need for the citizens to make sacrifices.
“Economic reforms are taking place in this country, there are consequences for the reforms. They are supposed to be sacrifices but it should be across the board.
“Workers are seeing that money is coming in trillions, they want their own share. When a nation subsidises, it makes more value for wages but when they are removed, you have to pay for it.”
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