On Monday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) urged organized labour to insist on a minimum wage of ₦120,000, arguing that the Federal Government has no valid reason to oppose such an amount.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which has proposed a ₦60,000 minimum wage, condemned the PDP’s suggestion as unpatriotic.
The organized labour, led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC), commenced a nationwide strike on Monday after rejecting the government’s ₦60,000 offer. Labour is demanding ₦494,000 as the minimum wage.
The strike has significantly disrupted operations in government offices, airports, schools, and hospitals, while electricity and water services were also affected.
PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, criticized the APC-led government for its handling of the negotiations with labour, calling it insincere.
“The government’s negotiation with labour is hypocritical. They claim to lack funds for a ₦120,000 minimum wage, yet they spend extravagantly on other projects,” Abdullahi remarked. “If they can fund massive infrastructure projects and international trips for officials, they can afford a reasonable minimum wage.”
Abdullahi further stated, “The minimum wage should be ₦120,000. If the government cannot provide this, the strike should continue to remind them of their responsibilities to the people.”
APC Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, responded by accusing the PDP of instigating labour unrest. He asserted, “If the PDP were in power, they wouldn’t have addressed the minimum wage issue at all. Their stance is driven by election loss bitterness and lack of patriotism.”
Ibrahim acknowledged the country’s economic challenges but called the NLC and TUC’s demand for ₦494,000 unreasonable.
“The labour union must consider fairness and the broader population in their demands. While advocating for workers, they should remember the millions of unemployed Nigerians who also face economic hardships,” Ibrahim said. “The demand for ₦500,000 monthly is irrational and unethical given the nation’s current economic situation.”
