The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero has revealed the untold secret about the hierarchical structure of workers in Nigeria. He emphasized that there are no employees at level 1, step 1, with the lowest employment starting at level 4.
He stated that with the new minimum wage increase of N70,000, workers can receive an additional 40,000 to 50,000 naira on top of their initial 70,000 naira salary. However, he highlighted a significant concern among state governors regarding the impact of these consequential adjustments on their budgets. He stated that governors often start paying a standard 70,000 naira to employees at level 4 without considering the necessary adjustments.
He said in an interview with Arise TV From 6:50, ”This is not something that we normally discuss in the public but I will have to say it. There is no worker in level 1 step 1 today in Nigeria, we only have workers starting from level 4. And if you look at consequential adjustment, there is usually 1500 or 2000 from one level to the other. So from level one to level 15, we are going to have about 15,000 workers there. So at level four where people start, you are going to have almost N40,000 to N50,000 added to the N70,000 that they are being paid before.
But this is where the problem is, the governors are usually worried about this consequential adjustment and how it impact on their salaries. In most instances, they will just start paying N70,000 to somebody in level 4. I think that is where we need to do the balancing for states that will pay. The President said the subnationals is going to work with the governors on the issue of minimum wage. And that the private sector is equally going to address the issue that will enable them to pay.”….Seë_Morë