Reno Omokri, a socio-political analyst and writer, has told the Nigerian government to adopt the American multiple minimum wage system.
Omokri disclosed this on Saturday through his official X
account, while reacting to the Nigeria Governor Forum’s stance that it cannot
pay 60,000 minimum wage.
The Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, on Friday insisted that
state governors can not pay 60,000 as a minimum wage.
The development comes as the federal government gives
organized labour commitment to pay a minimum wage higher than N60,000.
A report from Friday’s Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage
disclosed the federal government is offering N62,000 as a minimum while
organized labor slashed its N494,000 proposal to N250,000.
Still, the Organised Private Sector, OPS had earlier agreed
on N60,000 minimum wage.
Speaking on the various minimum wage proposals, Omokri said
instead of having a unified minimum wage, the government should adopt a
multiple-wage system.
According to him, the financial resources vary between the
federal government and the states.
“Since the governors have said they cannot afford N60,000 as
minimum wage, then, instead of a unified minimum wage, why can’t we do as the
Americans, and have multiple minimum wages?
“One federal minimum wage and 36 minimum wages, each state
having theirs. That will be one small step for workers and a giant step for true
federalism. Because, in truth, why should poor states be forced to pay the same
minimum wage as wealthier states, like Lagos, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom states?
“It is like saying all of us must pay our drivers the same
amount that Dangote pays his chauffeurs. All fingers are not equal, and all
states are not at the same level,” he said.
In April 2019, Nigeria’s minimum wage was raised to N30,000.
Following the expiration of five years as mandated by the law, Nigeria is due
for a new minimum wage.
Recall that organized labor shut down the economy on Monday
over the government’s failure to reach an agreement on a new minimum wage.
Organized labor suspended the strike for one week after
extracting a commitment from the Nigerian government to continue negotiations.
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