Ebonyi South Senator, Anthony Ani, has made a case for 100,000 minimum wage for workers, saying it is ideal and realistic.
He made the call in Abuja on Friday, noting that a N100,000 minimum wage would be a win-win situation.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) are currently demanding N494,000 as minimum wage for workers, while the Federal 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 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 Federal Government.
Speaking to journalists on the matter, Ani noted that the N494,000 being demanded by Labour was unrealistic.
According to him, N100,000 is reasonable for workers and realistic on the part of the government.
He said: “The N494,000 Labour is asking the 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; a 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.
“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.”
‘It’s realistic’: Senator makes case for N100,000 minimum wage