Minimum Wage: Consider “Lagos factor”, NLC state chapter urges govt.

The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the state government to consider the peculiarities in the state when the N70,000 new minimum wage comes into effect.

The state Chairman, Mrs Funmi Sessi, told the newsmen on Friday in Lagos that the N70,000 minimum wage approved by President Bola Tinubu could not sustain workers in the state.

Supreme News reports that Tinubu had on Thursday approved N70,000 as the new minimum wage.

The announcement came after the President met with the leadership of the organised labour in Abuja.

The new minimum wage, when approved by the National Assembly, will replace the N30,000 minimum wage which expired on April 18, 2024.

“We, in Lagos State, there are some issues we still need to negotiate further with the government such as rent, transportation, feeding.

“The government needs to look, critically, at our own wage and add the “Lagos factor” to it.

“We know that if Ogun, Oyo, Edo, Ekiti are paying N70,000 stipulated by law, for Lagos, Kano, Rivers, and Abuja, there will always be that special factor on their allowances.

“So, we use this medium to appeal to our loving and good governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who is always willing to appreciate the good works of workers and alleviate the sufferings.

“We want to tell the governor that the “Lagos factor” should be considered for the workers in the state; N70,000 is not sustainable for workers that reside in the state.

“We will, however, continue to engage and dialogue until what we feel will be best for the workers is achieved, “ she said.

Sessi, however, commended Tinubu and labour for concluding negotiations.

She also appealed to the government and agencies saddled with the responsibility to monitor the market forces, to do so effectively to avoid further increase in the prices of goods and services.

“This is the time those who are rendering services will start calculating how to increase the prices of goods and services that they have already increased since 2023.

“We already have triple in the prices of goods and services; what we are just gaining now is the wage to catch up with the inflation and rising cost of goods and services.

“So, we do not expect those in the market forces again to increase the prices of goods and services.

“We also appreciate the fact that the retirees will also have some added percentage to their stipends that they are being paid every month, “ Sessi said.