The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga has criticized the demand by organized labour for a minimum wage of N497,000, saying the demand is unrealistic.
The Presidency has rejected the demand, labeling it unrealistic and unserious.Initially, organized labour had demanded N615,000 as the minimum wage, but later reduced it to N500,000 and then N497,000. Meanwhile, the government and the private sector increased their offer to N57,000 during the last Tripartite meeting.
Onanuga emphasized that both federal and state governments have bloated workforces, making it challenging to meet such high wage demands.
He stressed that the primary consideration in setting a new minimum wage should be the availability of resources to pay the agreed amount.
He pointed out that government spending on recurrent expenditures is already high, and it would be difficult for federal, state, or local governments to allocate all their funds to paying workers.
ALSO READ: Federal Government Takes Legal Action Against State Governors
Onanuga questioned the feasibility of the demand, asking if labour leaders could afford to pay their own employees such high wages.
He noted that the federal civil service employs around 50,000 hardcore civil servants, excluding the police, army, and other agency workers.
He argued that these employees do not significantly contribute to productivity and therefore do not warrant such high wages.
Furthermore, Onanuga highlighted that the government has responsibilities beyond paying workers, such as providing infrastructure, healthcare, and education for the entire population, including those who are self-employed or running their own businesses.
He urged organized labour to be more realistic in their wage demands.
