The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has advised President Bola Tinubu that the proposed minimum wage recommendations are realistic and essential. SERAP also urged the President to ensure that any new minimum wage legislation aligns with Nigeria’s international commitments to uphold workers’ rights to a decent living wage.
President Tinubu, in his Democracy Day Speech on June 12, promised that the new national minimum wage proposal would soon be presented to the National Assembly for approval. This announcement came shortly after Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, received the recommendations from the 37-member Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage.
The Presidency had previously labelled the demand for a ₦497,000 minimum wage by organised labour as unrealistic. Represented by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to establishing a realistic and sustainable minimum wage, considering the potential impact on employment rates.
In a letter dated June 15, 2024, signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation argued that the proposed minimum wage in the executive bill is inadequate and does not meet international human rights standards ratified by Nigeria. SERAP stressed the necessity for the new wage to ensure a living wage for Nigerian workers, many of whom struggle to meet basic living expenses despite being employed.
The letter read, in part:
“Any proposed minimum wage that fails to guarantee a dignified life for Nigerian workers and their families would be inconsistent with international standards. Successive governments have persistently violated these guarantees, leaving millions of Nigerian workers in poverty due to low wages and a lack of social security and protection. If your government submits a bill that does not meet international standards and it becomes law, SERAP will take appropriate legal action to ensure compliance in the public interest.”
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SERAP highlighted that the proposed recommendations are based on Nigeria’s international human rights obligations and are not unrealistic. It argued that human rights are not a matter of charity and that upholding Nigeria’s international commitments regarding a living wage would protect workers’ purchasing power.
The organisation called on President Tinubu to take concrete steps to defend the rights of Nigerian workers to an adequate living wage, which would not only protect against absolute poverty but also relative poverty. It emphasised that the government’s legal obligations must be reflected in any new minimum wage bill presented to the National Assembly.
SERAP also urged the President to cut the cost of governance and implement transparency and accountability measures within ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). It recommended reducing budgetary allocations for security votes, excessive salaries and allowances for National Assembly members, and unlawful pensions for former governors and deputies. Additionally, SERAP called for the recovery of missing public funds as documented by the Auditor-General of the Federation.
The letter further detailed Nigeria’s international obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and other treaties to ensure an adequate living wage. SERAP insisted that the minimum wage setting must consider the current cost of living to guarantee that workers can afford healthcare, education, and a decent standard of living.
SERAP concluded by urging the President to ensure that the proposed executive bill sets the minimum wage at a level that corresponds to a living wage, allowing Nigerian workers and their families to achieve an adequate standard of living. The organisation expressed hope that these recommendations would be incorporated into the proposed bill.
According to SERAP, the President had stated in his Democracy Day Speech that the government is finalising an executive bill on the new minimum wage, set to be sent to the National Assembly. The organisation reiterated that under international human rights law, all Nigerian workers have the right to fair wages and a decent living for themselves and their families.
