House to Constitute Committee on Modalities for Payment of Living Wage to Workers

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The House of Representatives has resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to look into modalities for the payment of living wages to Nigerian workers at rates that match economic realities.

The resolution of the House was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved at plenary yesterday, by Hon. Kingsely Chinda and 23 others.

Moving the motion, Chinda said the rising rate of inflation in the country made it difficult for average Nigerian to afford basic needs such as food, water, housing, education, healthcare, transportation and clothing.

He noted that the rising inflationary rate in the country has also had a negative effect on the cost of living, with the cost of food, accommodation, education, and transportation skyrocketing;

The lawmaker stressed that Nigeria was a signatory to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 23 of the Declaration states that every individual who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration to ensure such a person and his or her family exist in dignity.

He added that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have a 2030 achievement deadline and eight out of the 17 SDGs of the United Nations require the payment of a living wage to be achieved.

 Chinda, recalled that when the fuel subsidy was removed in May 2023, the federal government offered palliatives to cushion its effects.

He said the ameliorative effect of the measure has been overtaken by the continued rise in the cost of goods and services.

He stated: “Further aware that the minimum wage (in Nigeria) was increased by the president recently, but the purchasing power is low owing to the continued rise in the cost of living in the country and the fall of the naira.”

He pointed out that Trade Economics in 2018, reported the living wage for an individual Nigerian and a Nigerian family to be N43,200 per month and N137,600 per month, respectively before the removal of subsidy.

Chinda, stressed that presently, no labourer could live in Nigeria with a wage of less than N100,000.

“Concerned that according to the World Bank report, low purchasing power in the country occasioned by a high inflationary rate, has led to an increase in poverty across the country,” he noted.

The lawmaker further recalled that the Speaker of the House, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, had on September 29, 2023, opined that it was only a living wage that could ameliorate the insecurity and corruption pervading the country;

He expressed worry that unless immediate and pragmatic steps were taken to improve the income of Nigerians, more Nigerians would go down the economic line, with the poor population increasing.

This, in effect, the lawmaker said would lead to desperation and a loss of faith in the government.

The House resolved to, “Set up an Ad-hoc committee to look into modalities for the payment of living wages to Nigerian workers at rates that match economic realities; and  transmit the resolution to the Senate for concurrence.”