Former Kaduna lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has called on the Federal Government to address the minimum wage issue to prevent strikes from organized labor.
In an interview with Arise Television on Thursday, Sani emphasized that increasing the minimum wage is within the federal government’s capacity.
“I don’t know how a Nigerian can survive with less than N100,000. When you break down what the government is offering—N45,000 to N48,000—you see how unrealistic it is once you factor in various expenses. The government should consider the position taken by labor,” Sani stated.
He pointed out that while agreeing to increase the minimum wage is important, the government must also have the capacity to pay it. “In recent years, the government has struggled to pay the existing wages on paper. So, how this increase will be reflected needs careful consideration.”
Sani argued that since the removal of the fuel subsidy, the government has more funds and should use this to increase the minimum wage to a level where workers can adequately support their families.
“The government has the resources for a minimum wage of N615,000. A living wage for laborers is not a bad idea and should be considered, but it must be at a reasonable level,” he added.
He further explained that the discontent among citizens stems from a perception that they are the only ones making sacrifices for economic reforms. “Economic reforms have consequences and require sacrifices, but these should be shared across the board. Workers see trillions coming in and want their share. When subsidies are removed, the value must be reflected in wages,” Sani concluded.
