The federal government is considering raising the minimum wage to N200k per month, as requested by organised labour. Some experts are concerned about the potential impact on the economy.
State governors are urging caution regarding the proposed minimum wage increase, while a Technical Working Group (TWG) chaired by Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo has been tasked with resolving the issues.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the matter was discussed at the last month’s National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, and it was there that the Salaries, Incomes & Wages Commission made a presentation on how the federal government can meet up with the demand for N200,000 per month minimum wage.
Sources say President Bola Ahmed Tinubu believes the organised labour’s demand for a higher minimum wage is not unrealistic, citing his campaign promises as proof of his readiness to handle the challenge.
At the NEC meeting, which the president inaugurated in June, the Salaries & Wages Commission costed the financial implications of the said minimum wage increase and showed how the federal government could pay it, with a certain recommendation that it was well within the capacity of the federal government.
But at the meeting, the state governors who make up the membership of the NEC raised questions over the proposal.
Leading the governors at the meeting was Anambra State governor, Prof Charles Soludo, who argued that before adopting the presentation to significantly raise the national minimum wage, it would be important for NEC to first understand where the money would come from, how much would come and what states would get.
Part of the expectations and planning is that with the new foreign exchange policy, more cash would be available to be shared by the federal and state governments under the FAAC monthly distribution.
According to informed sources, there would be enough surplus cash to enable the significant raising of the minimum wage from N30,000 to N100,000 monthly.
Similarly, the savings from the fuel subsidy would further mean more cash inflow to the federation account.
