News

Tinubu: Nigerian Workers Poorer Than Before, Oshiomole Laments

Published

2 years ago

October 30, 2024

Editor

The Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, stated on Wednesday that Nigerian workers today are significantly poorer than previous generations.

Oshiomhole stated this during a lecture for members of the Executive Intelligence Management Course 17 at the National Institute of Security Studies in Abuja.

He noted that the widely discussed N70,000 minimum wage is equivalent to just $42 when converted to dollars, a sharp decline compared to the past.

He said, “When the minimum wage in Nigeria was established under President Shagari, around 1981, it was about N125, which was equivalent to around $160 a month. Today, despite a 100% increase achieved by labour last year, the current exchange rate reduces this N70,000 to just $42.

“So, if you divide N70,000 by N1,650, it gives you $42. This shows that working people are much, much poorer now than we were many years ago. This income devaluation affects the quality of life and everything else.”

Oshiomhole stressed that the government and wealthier states should pay more than the current minimum wage.

Reflecting on his time as President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, he recalled pushing for Lagos State to raise its minimum wage beyond N5,000.

He said, “A serious employer should not be paying the minimum wage; they should pay more. Major employers, like the civil service, should not pay just the minimum wage. I expect the Federal Government will, over time, adjust its minimum wage.

“When I was NLC President, we agreed that oil-producing states, like Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Lagos, which have significant revenue, should pay no less than N7,000—the same as the federal rate.

“Interestingly, when we pursued this, the current President was then Governor of Lagos State. He showed me all the books and said he couldn’t afford it, but I had to push him. We organised strikes to make sure that all necessary funds were used for salaries, even if it meant sacrificing other projects.

“My job then was not to sympathise with the employers; it was to ensure workers got their due.”

Oshiomhole also called for the expansion of minimum wage laws to cover domestic staff and other employees through amendments.

He stated, “If you look at the law in Nigeria, which I hope we can amend soon, although the federal government and states have agreed on a N70,000 minimum wage, some employers still pay less, as the law only applies to enterprises with around 25-50 employees.

“But in today’s economy, a small ICT company with only 10 staff can still generate significant turnover, so the old employee number criteria are outdated.”

He added that wages in other countries, such as in California, USA, may be driving the “Japa syndrome” (emigration of Nigerian workers). According to him, an unskilled worker could earn as much as $2,560 a month in California.

He explained, “If you check, the minimum wage in California is $16 an hour. Working eight hours a day amounts to $128 daily. Over a month of 20 working days, this totals $2,560 for unskilled labour, a vast difference compared to Nigerian wages.”

Expressing hope for the country’s future despite current hardships, he urged the government to carefully consider policy decisions.

He said, “We are going through challenging times, but as the saying goes, tough times don’t last; tough people do. Nigerians are tough, and this time will pass. Prosperity will return if we make the right policy choices and preserve past gains.”

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

2 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

8 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

8 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.