The House of Representatives established an ad hoc committee on Wednesday to investigate methods for paying living wages to Nigerian workers at rates that are consistent with the country’s current economic reality.
This followed the passage of a motion co-sponsored by 40 House members.
Aliyu Sani Madaki (NNPP, Kano) moved the motion on behalf of the sponsors, stating that the country’s rising inflation rate has made it impossible for the average Nigerian to afford basic needs such as food, water, housing, education, healthcare, transportation, and clothing.
He also mentioned that the country’s rising inflation rate has a negative influence on the cost of life, with the prices of food, housing, education, and transportation surging.
The lawmaker stated that Nigeria is a signatory to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, specifically Article 23, which states that “every individual who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration to ensure such a person and his or her family exist in dignity.”
He went on to say that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have a 2030 deadline for achievement, and eight of the United Nations’ 17 SDGs require a living wage to be met.
The senator remembered that when the fuel subsidy was eliminated in May 2023, the federal government provided relief to mitigate the effects.
He did, however, notice that the measure’s beneficial effect had been outweighed by the ongoing rise in the cost of goods and services.
He stated that despite the president’s recent wage award, people’s purchasing power remained low due to the continuous rise in the cost of living in the country and the decline of the naira.
Madaki stated that the living wage for a Nigerian and a Nigerian family in 2018 was N43,200 and N137,600 per month, respectively, prior to the elimination of fuel subsidies.
He stated that no labourer can currently live in Nigeria on less than N100,000, emphasizing the importance of determining a livable wage.
According to the World Bank research, the country’s low purchasing power, caused by excessive inflation, has resulted in an increase in poverty across the country.
The congressman voiced concern that unless “very immediate and pragmatic steps are taken to improve the income of Nigerians, more Nigerians will go down the economic line, with the poor population increasing.”
When the motion was put to a voice vote, it was unanimously approved, and the resolution will be sent to the Senate for concurrence.