Rep. Kingsley Chinda, the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives representing the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from Rivers State, has pledged the backing of the opposition caucus in advocating for the implementation of a living wage for Nigerian workers.
In a press briefing held on Tuesday in Abuja, Chinda expressed concern over the prevailing economic hardships faced by workers in the country, emphasizing the urgent need for a living wage to alleviate their suffering.
Highlighting the bipartisan nature of the issue, Chinda stated that no lawmaker was indifferent to the plight of workers amid the economic downturn. He stressed that the provision of a living wage was essential to ensure that workers could afford a decent standard of living.
The opposition caucus, he revealed, is actively advocating for a living wage that would truly enable workers to sustain themselves and their families.
He referenced estimates from Trade Economics in 2018, which pegged the living wage for individuals and families at N43,200 and N137,600 per month respectively, noting that current economic realities necessitated even higher wages.
Chinda cited a recent World Bank report, which highlighted the adverse effects of low purchasing power due to high inflation rates, leading to a surge in poverty levels across the country.
Assuring Nigerians of the opposition’s commitment to addressing the issue, Chinda revealed that resolutions had been made within the assembly and that an ad hoc committee had been tasked with transmitting the outcomes to the Senate for swift action and concurrence.
