The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has been battling to get the governments at all level to agree to a minimum wage of N30, 000. So far they have resisted, claiming they are not able to afford that. Given the cost of living in the country, is N30, 000 a living wage? Can it truly make that much of a difference in the life of a family or even an individual?
Justin Robert, An Apprentice: “Our country is rich and blessed with good things of life and we are rich enough to pay even N50,000 a month to a worker. What is N18,000 or N30,000 going to buy in the market now? Fuel for example is N145/ltr, both the rich and poor buy at the same price and there is no sentiment that this person is rich let’s sell higher and this person is poor let’s reduce the price, NO. I am of the opinion that the amount may be okay for someone like me that is not married yet and with less responsibility not for a married person but if government agrees it is fine.”
Mrs. Ifeoluwa Akinlolu, An Entrepreneur: “I sell materials which shoe-makers use in making or mending shoes like gum, leather and sand-paper etc. Things we sold at N100 before is now N250 or N300, so tell me will the shoe-maker not increase the price for which he makes or mends the shoes? Answer is YES, he will. What do the so-called lawmakers do to earn fat salaries at the end of the month, and government is saying N30,000 is too much to pay a civil servant. They are all thieves and do not have the interest of the masses at heart, they only care about themselves and their families.”
Mr. Oluwakemi Damilare, A cobbler: “The proposed N30,000 by NLC, is not bad and it’s bad at the same time. You cannot expect a married person to have the same budget as a non-married person, never. A married young man, for example, will think of school fees, rent, feeding, clothing and transportation etc., while a young unmarried man will not think about all that, maybe he lives in his father’s house where he eats free food, and no rent. All he thinks about is what I’ll wear i.e. shoes, cloth, girls and party that all, so for this kind of person the amount is okay but for the married man it is not.”
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Mrs. Mariam Ogbue, Civil Servant: “I am happy that NLC has thought of this and if they can pressurize the government into committing to this course, the proposed amount will go a long way to savage some situations. At least I’ll be able to lift some burden of my husband and cater for some things while the more pressing things will be shouldered by him. To me, the amount is okay and I pray that both the state and federal government agree with NLC to make it a reality, God blesses Nigeria.”
Mrs. Elizabeth P. Teacher: “It is fairly okay comparing to the current N18,000 that is being paid now. At least, one can buy more things with this amount than the N18,000. I can comfortably decide to cater for feeding in my house and my husband will take care of other things. By so doing, I’ll be able to support him and not ask for everything from him every time. Asking for everything makes the man see the woman as a liability, which in due time will cause trouble in the family.”
Everybody has an opinion. So, what’s your opinion? Please reach us on the comment box below.
