N30,000 Minimum Wage Is A Joke – Oshiomhole Declares

Adams Oshiomhole, the Edo North Senator, has described the current N30,000 minimum wage as a joke.

Oshiomhole said the pay package of workers should increase in the face of the current reality with prices of things skyrocketing.

Speaking on Channels Televison’s Politics Today, the lawmaker said the Nigerian workers and the Federal Government, and state governments have agreed on the need to increase the minimum wage.

He said, “I think there is some unanimity between employers, including private employers and obviously the Federal Government and I believe state governments that the current minimum wage of 30,000 is a joke.

“There is a recognition of the fact that the purchasing power of the workers across the board including directors, permanent secretaries not to talk of those on levels one to four, has dropped radically and you need to beef it up.

“In a market economy, there are even countries where wages are indexed to the weight of inflation. So, I think there is a shared commitment that wages should go up and go up radically as much as prices have skyrocketed,” he said.

Recall that the federal government had assured the Nigerian workers that the new minimum wage will take effect from May 1, 2024.

This followed the Federal Government’s approval of 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increments for the remaining six consolidated salary structures