Amid the quests by organised labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), the unions have been urged to consider small businesses in their demands.
Okanlawon Gaffar, a legal practitioner who spoke with TimesNow.com.ng in an exclusive interview, said the minimum wage is not only about what the government can pay but also about what small businesses can pay.
The lawyer noted that though the country’s inflation is high, the cost of living, particularly food, should not be considered, and a minimum wage that would not be favourable to the survival of small businesses should not be considered.
He said:
TimesNow.com.ng earlier reported that Festus Osifo, the president of the TUC, said organised Labour was aware that everybody would not pay their N494,000 demand for the minimum wage.
Osifo posited that the government knew organised labour was not fixated on its demand for the new minimum wage.
The TUC president then stated that their negotiations were based on certain principles, such as inflation and exchange rates.
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
