FG PLANS TO RAISE WORKERS' PAY TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF THE LABOR SHORTAGE

Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, stated that the Federal government is considering a total upward review of government employees as part of its efforts to mitigate the impact of the country's hardship.

On Monday, he hinted at this when he delivered a speech at the public presentation of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at 40 publication titled "Contemporary History of Working Class Struggles" in Abuja.

According to the labor minister, the adjustment is necessary in light of the current global economic downturn, particularly in Nigeria. "We shall adjust the minimum wage in accordance with what is happening," Ngige said. "More importantly, the 2014 Minimum Wage Act has a new clause for a review."

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has begun to adjust because the stage they are at with their primary employers, the Ministry of Education, is Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations.

Earlier in his speech, Festus Osifo, President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), stated that the ruling class has subjugated and oppressed Nigerian workers. He lamented that the current minimum wage of N30,000 could not cover workers' transportation costs to work for a month in the current economic climate. "The N30,000 minimum wage has depreciated in value. It is not possible to put workers back to work "He stated.