Pensioners in Nigeria’s Southwest region, under the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), have voiced their rejection of the newly approved N70,000 minimum wage. They argue that the amount is too low given the rising cost of living, especially after the government’s recent hike in petrol prices. At the end of a zonal meeting held in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, the pensioners urged labour unions to demand N250,000 as a more reasonable wage.
N70,000 is Inadequate for Current Economic Conditions
The NUP Southwest Publicity Secretary, Dr. Olusegun Abatan, read a communique expressing disappointment in the newly signed minimum wage. He criticized labour unions for agreeing to the N70,000 minimum wage, noting that the government increased fuel prices shortly after the agreement, which made the wage quickly inadequate.
“We noticed that before the N70,000 even came into effect, the Federal Government raised fuel prices. The two labour unions—Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC)—were misled in the negotiations," Abatan said. "They were tricked into thinking fuel prices would not go up if they accepted N70,000, but the government raised prices soon after the deal."
A Call to Renegotiate for N250,000 Minimum Wage
The pensioners believe that the N70,000 wage cannot cover basic expenses, stating it is equivalent to just about 60 litres of fuel. They urged labour unions to return to the negotiation table and push for the original N250,000 minimum wage proposal.
“We support the unions fully, even if it takes a strike to achieve a realistic minimum wage,” they declared. Abatan added that the unions were not to blame, placing responsibility on the government for acting in bad faith. “This government has shown itself to be unreliable and deceptive. It’s a shame that citizens are treated this way,” he said.
Ensuring Local Government Autonomy Without Crisis
The pensioners also emphasized the importance of properly managing local government autonomy. They warned that the autonomy process should not affect pension and salary payments for retired council workers and primary school teachers. The NUP urged both federal and state governments to ensure there is no return to the era when councils received zero allocation after salaries and pensions were deducted.
The union stressed that the government must act swiftly to prevent potential crises from fully implementing local government autonomy.
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