The NLC has clarified that the recent wage award is distinct from the N70,000 minimum wage, addressing any confusion.
According to the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the recent N35,000 wage increase in the state should not be considered a replacement or substitution for the newly enacted N70,000 minimum wage.
Funmi Sessi, the State NLC Chairman, expressed concern over a statement from a commission stating that the state paid its employees above the prescribed minimum wage of N70,000. This explanation was given in Lagos on Friday.
The union demanded a revised pay system that incorporates different job levels and salary grades of all public workers in the state, with an initial benchmark set at N70,000. The new structure should also encompass all relevant allowances.
Consequently, it appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to establish a committee on salaries that would examine the prompt enactment of N70,000 for all types of civil servants in the state.
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The NLC praises Governor Sanwo-Olu for exhibiting a strong dedication to the wellbeing of workers. This is exemplified by his decision to have Lagos become the first state in Nigeria to apply the N35,000 wage award as a palliative measure benefiting public servants.
The statement indicated that referring to the N35,000 palliative wage award as part of the earned income in the state is inaccurate because it does not encompass allowances.
The union urged private sector employers to comply with the laws that regulate the recently approved minimum wage in the country.
The union stresses the importance of prioritizing the well-being of workers, who are crucial to any business’s success.
According to the union, government agencies accountable for ensuring compliance should take a proactive approach and ensure that all parties involved feel fearless.
