62, 000 not enough, popular Senator tells Federal Govt what to pay as Minimum Wage
62, 000 not enough, popular Senator tells Federal Govt what to pay as Minimum Wage
The Abia North Senator, Orji Uzor Kalu has reiterated his proposal of N90, 000 as minimum wage for workers after the inconclusive negotiation between the organised labour and the Federal Government over a new minimum wage.
Senator Kalu reemphasised this when he addressed journalists after a close-door meeting he had with the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, at his country home in Isiala-Ngwa South local government area of the state.
The former Abia State governor said: “I’m also believing that N62, 000 cannot do anything. I propose N90, 000 because we have not increased the minimum wage in five years.
“If we use five years of minimum wage that has not been increased, say that we are increasing 200 percent, from N30,000 to N90,000, divided five years with 200 percent increment is 40 percent. So that 40 percent gives you inflation. This is why I say N90,000.
“I might be different from so many people that are in government, but I’m a practical person. The civil servants need some good treatment and good behaviour,” Kalu said.
Recall that the labour unions had maintained their N250,000 minimum wage request following months of negotiations with the government and the organised private sector.
Kalu, who is senator on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while appraising the performance of Tinubu, said: “I’m sure the president has done well in some areas, and he also needs to improve in many other areas.
“I’m a very practical person. I fear nobody and I don’t support anybody. I support the truth.
“President Tinubu has done so well in some areas and has not done so well in others.
“He has done well in economic policy; the monetary policy is very good but not with fiscal policies; we are not growing more food. I want us to grow more food.”
