On July 23, Nigeria’s National Assembly approved a bill to significantly increase the minimum wage for federal workers. The authorities have concurrently cautioned against protests over the escalating cost of living.
The legislation, which swiftly passed through both the Senate and the House of Representatives, proposes raising the monthly minimum wage from 30,000 naira to 70,000 naira (approximately $43). This change will take effect once President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signs the bill into law. Additionally, the review period for the wage has been shortened from five years to three years.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, a member of Tinubu’s APC party, emphasized the significance of passing the bill, stating it was “important to the Nigerian people.”
In recent months, Africa’s most populous nation has experienced a series of labor strikes as unions demanded higher wages. The cost of living surged following Tinubu’s decision to eliminate a costly fuel subsidy and relax foreign exchange controls after his inauguration in May of the previous year.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, inflation reached a record high of 34.19 percent in June, with food inflation exceeding 40.87 percent. After a deadlock and months of negotiations, unions accepted the wage increase, although it fell short of their initial demands.
The new wage level will apply to all federal workers, including civil servants, airport staff, and teachers.
Meanwhile, the passage of this bill coincides with growing calls on social media for Nigerians to participate in nationwide protests against Tinubu’s policies. Some are advocating for peaceful rallies starting August 1, under the banner “End Bad Governance in Nigeria.” However, Information Minister Mohammed Idris conveyed that the president has urged demonstrators to refrain from protesting for the time being.
Source: newsnow.com
