Nigerian unions maintain 500,000-naira demand
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Daily Post
Nigerian trade unionist Gbenga Olowoyo is maintaining the demand for a monthly minimum wage of 500,000 naira while saying he is open to negotiations with the federal government. He also welcomes the monthly 70,000-naira transport allowance planned for six months from November, according to the Daily Post.
Gbenga Olowoyo, national secretary of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), has reaffirmed that the unions are maintaining their demand for a monthly minimum wage of 500,000 naira. He said he was ready to negotiate with the federal government, according to an interview with Arise News on Tuesday.
The position came after a more than six-hour meeting between the unions and the government on wages and measures intended to cushion the rise in petrol prices. The authorities agreed to pay workers a monthly transport allowance of 70,000 naira for six months from November, Olowoyo said. He described the measure as temporary support that did not replace discussions on the minimum wage.
The union official explained that the 500,000-naira demand took workers’ expenses into account, including school fees and essential household needs. He said he expected the government to honour its commitment on the transport allowance.
The agreement on the 70,000-naira allowance was announced on 27 October. It formed part of the resumption of wage negotiations between the Nigerian government and the unions, after the unions had called for concrete proposals on pay.
