Minimum Wage: N100,000 is reasonable, realistic – Senator Ani

Senator representing Ebonyi South Senatorial District, Anthony Ani, has advised the Government and the Labour unions, to consider and adopt the sum of one hundred thousand Naira as reasonable and realistic minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

Senator Ani, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), gave the advice in Abuja, while reacting to the current impasse between the Federal Government and the Labour unions over the issue of minimum wage.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), are currently demanding for N494,000 as minimum wage for workers, while the Government said that it could sustainably pay N60,000.

The Organised Labour, including the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, had earlier ordered its members to commence an indefinite strike from Monday, June 3, 2024, nationwide.

The decision of Labour to embark on industrial action followed the deadlock between the Federal Government and the Labour Unions in agreeing on a new national minimum wage and reversal of the recent hike in electricity tariffs.

The Labour unions went on strike on Monday as announced but later suspended it on Tuesday for five days, to allow for further negotiation with the Government on acceptable and sustainable minimum wage for workers.

However, speaking to journalists on the matter, Senator Ani noted that the N494,000 being demanded by Labour is unrealistic, saying that N100,000 is reasonable for workers and realistic on the part of Government.

He said: “The N494,000 Labour is asking Government to pay as minimum wage is not realistic. The economists and statisticians are there to do the calculation and come up with a reasonable salary; a salary that can carry you and carry your family. They call it a living wage; living wage should be given to workers.

“I recommend one hundred thousand Naira minimum wage per month for workers. I am sure Nigeria can afford that. It depends on where you are living. One hundred thousand Naira can take you, if you are living in a rural area where you don’t pay all these bills they are paying in township.

“You only have a few of those on level 1 step 1 in urban towns. Such people could be cleaners. I don’t think there is any driver who will be on level 1 step 1. I think such people are attached to big men they are serving. So, in this case, they are not going to pay rent. They only pay transportation and other menial expenses. So, it can take them.”

The lawmaker, who taught Agricultural Science in different reputable Nigerian Universities before he resigned and joined active politics, also advised Nigerian workers to try and acquire skills as well as go into subsistent farming to be able to earn additional income to augment their salaries.

“It also calls for people to be creative. As you are doing that, you have to have plan B; to have a fallback situation. That is why those of us who are farmers, we encourage people to go to farm. Every weekend, you go to your farm. You cannot understand the gains that can come from such activities. We are not saying that you should go into large scale farming but something that can help sustain you and your family. Some people sew clothes, some mend shoes and other artisanal activities to earn additional income,” he stated.

On how to address the worrisome issue of brain drain in Nigeria, Professor Ani posited that the solution to the problem was for government to provide conducive working environment, including adequate remuneration for workers, so that all the attractions in other countries could be found in the country.

“The problem of brain drain can be addressed by doing things right, so that what is over there can be found here. They say that what is good for the goose is good for the gander. If all those benefits that they get outside are here, what is the need of going there? I never fancied going out there, because Nigeria is blessed both in human and material resources.

“If such resources as needed are made available for maximum comfort, I don’t think there will be need for people to be trouping outside. Brain drain could be stopped by making workers in all sectors to be comfortable. It is lack of comfort that is making them to go outside and look for better means of living.

“That is a very big issue and that is why I support Labour that their salaries and allowances should be increased to a level that should be able to take them home. If you look at the cost of things today, what they get cannot take care of their basic needs. So, that is the main issue and that promotes corruption. If what you are getting is not enough, the temptation is there for you to touch what does not belong to you. So, for brain drain to be stopped, government has to pay attention to the welfare of workers,” he argued.