The House of Representatives convened on Wednesday to establish an ad-hoc committee tasked with devising strategies for implementing living wages for Nigerian workers that reflect the current economic conditions in the nation.
This development came about following the endorsement of a motion co-sponsored by 40 members of the House.
Presenting the motion on behalf of the sponsors, Aliyu Sani Madaki (NNPP, Kano) highlighted the escalating inflation rate in the country, rendering it increasingly challenging for the average Nigerian to afford essential necessities such as food, shelter, education, healthcare, transportation, and clothing.
Madaki underscored the adverse impact of soaring inflation on the cost of living, particularly the exponential rise in the prices of food, housing, education, and transportation.
Citing Nigeria’s commitment as a signatory to the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights, Madaki referenced Article 23 of the Declaration, emphasizing the right of every worker to fair and favorable remuneration ensuring a dignified existence for themselves and their families.
He further pointed out the alignment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the objective of achieving a living wage by 2030, as stipulated in eight out of the 17 SDGs set by the United Nations.
Recalling the removal of fuel subsidies in May 2023, Madaki noted the government’s introduction of palliative measures to mitigate its impact. However, he observed that the relief provided by these measures had been overshadowed by the persistent escalation of goods and services costs.
Madaki emphasized that despite recent wage adjustments by the president, the purchasing power of citizens remained low due to the continuous surge in living expenses and the depreciation of the national currency.
Quoting data from Trade Economics in 2018, Madaki cited the living wage for an individual and a family in Nigeria as N43,200 and N137,600 per month, respectively, prior to the fuel subsidy removal. He stressed that no worker could sustain a livelihood in Nigeria with a wage of less than N100,000 at present, highlighting the urgency of instituting a living wage.
Referring to a World Bank report, Madaki highlighted the link between low purchasing power resulting from high inflation and the escalating poverty levels nationwide.
Expressing apprehension, Madaki warned that without immediate and pragmatic measures to enhance Nigerians’ income, the nation’s poverty rate would continue to rise, exacerbating economic hardships for the populace.
The motion received unanimous approval through a voice vote, with the resolution slated for transmission to the Senate for concurrence.
