Anambra NLC demands N50, 000 minimum wage

The chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Anambra State, Comrade Jerry Nnubia, has said that an upward review of the current minimum wage for workers is long overdue, as the cost of living has gone up.

Nnubia told journalists during an interview in Awka yesterday that the increment became imperative following the “harsh” economic realities in the country.

“At the time we negotiated for a minimum wage of N18, 000, a dollar was at N140, but it has sky rocketed to between N220 and N240.

“The cost of living; accommodation, transportation and food items have also gone high, making it difficult for salary earners to take care of their basic needs,” the labour leader stressed.

Nnubia advocated for an upward review of the minimum wage from the current amount to N50, 000.

According to him, the Federal Government’s fight against corruption will further help improve the economy.

He urged the Federal Government to review its housing policy for workers, noting that civil servants do not benefit from the existing housing programmes in spite of contributions to the housing scheme through remittances from their salaries.

“The current contribution of workers to the national housing scheme should be made to work or scrapped,” he noted.

He commended Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State for his positive dispositions towards workers’ welfare, but noted that more needed to be done in the state.

“Anambra workers are full of expectations that Governor Obiano will put smiles on their faces by fulfilling his promises of increasing salaries,” the union chairman stated.