Socio-political analyst and writer Reno Omokri has urged the Nigerian government to consider adopting a multiple minimum wage system, similar to that of the United States.
Omokri shared his views on Saturday via his official X account in response to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) declaring its inability to meet the proposed N60,000 minimum wage.
On Friday, the NGF reiterated that state governors could not afford to pay a N60,000 minimum wage. This stance comes amid ongoing negotiations, with the federal government proposing a minimum wage of N62,000 and organized labor reducing its initial demand from N494,000 to N250,000. Meanwhile, the Organized Private Sector (OPS) has previously agreed to a N60,000 minimum wage.
Omokri advocated for a departure from a unified minimum wage, suggesting a system where each state sets its own minimum wage based on its financial capabilities. He argued that this approach would reflect the varying financial resources between the federal government and individual states.
“Since the governors have said they cannot afford N60,000 as a minimum wage, why can’t we implement a system like in America, with a federal minimum wage and separate minimum wages for each of the 36 states? This would be a significant step towards true federalism. Wealthier states like Lagos, Rivers, and Akwa-Ibom should not be compelled to pay the same minimum wage as poorer states,” Omokri stated.
He further illustrated his point by comparing it to the disparity in wages paid by individuals of varying wealth, saying, “It is like insisting that everyone pays their drivers the same salary that Dangote pays his chauffeurs. Not all fingers are equal, and similarly, not all states are financially on the same level.”
Nigeria’s minimum wage was last increased to N30,000 in April 2019, and with the expiration of the mandated five-year period, the country is due for a new minimum wage. Recently, organized labor shut down the economy over the government’s delay in reaching an agreement on the new minimum wage. The strike was suspended for one week after the Nigerian government committed to continuing negotiations.
