Economic Hardship: Reps urge govt to pay N100K living wage to Nigerian workers

The House of Representatives has called on the federal government to pay 'living wages' to Nigerian workers amid rising inflation.

The lawmakers made the call on Wednesday, March 6.

According to Daily Trust, the House has ordered its committee on labor and employment, finance and national planning to work out modalities for the payment of living wages to Nigerian workers at rates commensurate with economic realities.

This move was a sequel to the adoption of a motion co-sponsored by 40 lawmakers, Daily Independent reported.

Leading the debate on the motion, Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Aliyu Madaki, said the rising rate of inflation in the country has made it difficult for the average Nigerian to afford basic needs, including food, water, housing, education, healthcare, transportation, clothing, among others.

According to him, “The rising inflationary rate in the country has also had a negative effect on the cost of living, with the cost of food, accommodation, education, and transportation skyrocketing.”

Given the current economic reality in the country, the House maintained that “no laborer can live in Nigeria with a wage of less than N100,000.00 per month."

Madaki who represents the Dala Federal Constituency of Kano state further argued that unless very immediate and pragmatic steps are taken to improve the income of Nigerians "more Nigerians will go down the economic line”.

The Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu presided over the plenary session in the absence of the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen.