Minimum Wage: Labour Will Agree On A Realistic Figure When FG Creates Value Around The Naira, Says Benson Upah

The Head of Department of Information for Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Benson Upah, said government creates value around the baira, labour will take a realistic figure. 

Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday on the disparities in negotiation for the national minimum wage , Upah highlighted that labour’s fixation is with value, hence he cannot predict the outcome of upcoming meetings. 

He said, “I cannot predict that the outcome of today’s meeting will be. Our fixation is with value, if government takes needed decisions to create value around the naira, we’ll be ready to take a realistic figure.”

Upah, while pointing out 4 issues that has impaired the country’s economy and led to the dying of the naira said, “the first is the ill advised removal of subsidy instead of dealing with the criminal content of the subsidy. The second is the mindless devaluation of the naira.

“The third is the tariff hike. The fourth is the 26.5% interest rate. When you look at all of these, the environment becomes toxic for business.”

He added that the “government is obsessed with extreme market reform that does not benefit anybody not even the business at home. Government can also take decisions to reverse these actions by fiat.”

Further speaking on the issue, Udah explained that what he truly wants is to “create a national minimum wage that can stimulate capacity. A figure that can cater for a family of six is what labour wants.”

In response to Bayo Onanuga’s comment which was accusing them of being politicians not labour leaders, he stated, “the right to hold a political opinion is granted by the constitution and  I don’t think labour is excluded from such rights.”

He emphasised that they have no political sentiment, pointing out that their sentiments are “pure, patriotic and in the interest of this country.”

He said nothing less than $100 is acceptable.

Nancy Mbamalu

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