Senator representing Edo North, and former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole has described the current N30,000 minimum wage as a joke.
Oshiomhole in an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Wednesday, said the pay package of workers should increase in the face of the current reality with prices of things skyrocketing.
The lawmaker said Nigerian workers and the Federal Government, and state governments have agreed on the need to increase the minimum wage.
He said, “I think there is some unanimity between employers, including private employers and obviously the Federal Government and I believe state governments that the current minimum wage of 30,000 is a joke.
“There is a recognition of the fact that the purchasing power of the workers across the board including directors, permanent secretaries not to talk of those on levels one to four, has dropped radically and you need to beef it up.
“In a market economy, there are even countries where wages are indexed to the weight of inflation. So, I think there is a shared commitment that wages should go up and go up radically as much as prices have skyrocketed.”
Meanwhile, Oshiomhole said Nigerian workers and the Federal Government, as well as the state governments have agreed on the need to increase the minimum wage.
The former NLC president said all concerned parties acknowledged that the current minimum wage of N30,000 is outdated and should be increased to meet the rising cost of living.
President Tinubu on Wednesday had assured workers that a new living wage will soon be announced.
