The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for an upward review of the minimum wage for workers in the state to ₦150,000, citing the rising cost of living and recent wage increases in Imo and Ebonyi States.
Chairperson of the Lagos NLC, Funmi Sesi, made the demand on Thursday while reacting to the upward wage adjustments announced in the two states.
According to her, Lagos workers currently earn ₦85,000 as minimum wage, an amount she described as inadequate given the higher costs of accommodation, transportation, feeding, and utilities in the state.
“The time has come for an upward review of the minimum wage in Lagos. At least someone has taken the bull by the horns and opened the space.
No one can blame Governor Sanwo-Olu now if he implements a higher wage for Lagos workers, because we deserve a better wage and decent working conditions commensurate with the economic realities, especially in Lagos,” she said.
Sesi expressed optimism that other state governments would follow the examples of Imo and Ebonyi.
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State had recently raised the minimum wage for state civil servants from ₦76,000 to ₦104,000, while the Ebonyi State Government increased its workers’ minimum wage from ₦70,000 to ₦90,000, according to the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Chief Ikeuwa Omebe.