Mixed reactions trail N70,000 minimum wage

There were mixed reactions to the new N70,000 minimum wage for civil servants in the country by President Bola Tinubu in Enugu.

While some praised the president for ending the crises surrounding the minimum wage, others said the amount was too small given the economic realities in the country.

NAN reports that Tinubu, on Thursday, approved N70,000 new minimum wage during a meeting with the leadership of the organised labour in Abuja.

The new minimum wage, if upheld by the National Assembly, will replace the N30,000 minimum wage, which expired on April 18, 2024.

Reacting to the development, an Enugu-based lawyer and President, Citizens’ Rights Realization and Advancement Network, Olu Omotayo, lauded Tinubu for ending the long negotiation between the organised labour and tripartite committee on minimum wage.

According to him, Tinubu has shown a way forward by wading into the matter and convinced labour to accept N70, 000 minimum wage.

He noted the amount labour were seeking for initially was not attainable as population of civil servants in the country were minimal compared to over 200 million Nigerians government would also take care of.

He, however, urged for full implementation of the minimum wage to enable workers benefit from it.

A civil servant, Mr Matthew Ugbo, commended the labour leaders and the federal government for reaching an agreement after a long deliberation.

Ugboh urged the government to urgently send the bill to the National Assembly for possible accelerated passage and recommended the immediate implementation of the bill when passed into law.

President, The Potters Wheel, Enugu, Mr Godsown Onuzulike, while lauding Tinubu, observed that the amount could not do anything for workers given to people’s basic daily needs and the cost of things in the market.

According to him, it will not do anything for a civil servant with a family of four to cater for.

He added that the only way it could benefit civil servants was if they cut down their expenses, advising them to choose affordable schools for their children and accommodations as well as other things they needed.

“They should shun expensive private schools and accommodation to be able to manage the minimum and meet up with daily needs,” he advised.

A civil servant, Mr Christian Alumona, while noting that the amount was too little to compare with the hard economic situation in the country, said, “How can I cope with N70, 000 minimum wage when a bag of rice is almost N100, 000?

“How can we survive as civil servants. This is a difficult one. I expected minimum wage of N100,000 to N150, 000,” he said.

He noted that the amount would not be the same again after consequential adjustment had been made, saying it may be reduced to N60,000 after deductions.

Another civil servants, Mrs Lilian Okolo, said she was not happy with the announcement of N70, 000 minimum wage.

“The amount won’t do anything for us, it cannot fuel our car comfortably for a month as a litre of fuel is sold at N780 in Enugu.

“With that amount, it going to be difficult for civil servants. I was expecting at least N100, 000 minimum wage,” Okolo said.

NAN

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