By Taiwo Ajayi.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has criticized the government’s palliatives to states, saying that what Nigerian workers need is a living wage.
The NLC acknowledged that the handouts to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal could be applauded, but they warned that their distribution may not be even.
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NLC Deputy President Adewala Adeyanju said that a more responsive government would have increased workers’ salaries across the board. He argued that even a minimum wage of N150,000 per month may not be enough, given the current inflationary trends.
Adeyanju also pointed out that the government’s port reforms have had some successes, such as reducing theft from 55% to 15% and increasing facility effectiveness and responsiveness from 25% to 85%.
However, he also noted that the lease agreement between the government and the 25 terminal operators has not been renewed due to inter-agency rivalry, which has left dockworkers in a difficult position.
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