Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN), human rights lawyer and activist, has faulted the proposed N60,000 minimum wage by the federal government, saying the amount can’t buy a bag of rice in present-day Nigeria.

In an article titled ‘ The Labour Strike and FG’s Inertia- The Way Forward, Ozekhome says a 50kg bag of rice currently sells between N80,000 to N120,000.

While comparing, minimum wage prices across the world, Ozekhome says Nigeria’s minimum wage is one of the lowest as the FG’S propose N60,000 will amount to $40 per month.

He wrote “By way of comparative analysis with some other countries globally, the monthly minimum wage in the United States is US$1,160 ( N1,705,200); UK £1,376 (N2,528,950); Canada 2,464 CAD (N2,710,400); France £1,539.42 (N2,847,927); Ghana GHC 2,904 (N292,548.96) Rwanda RWF 56,668 (N64,602); South Africa R4,067.2 – R4,412.8 (N322,406.944 – N349,802.656); Botswana P1,168 (N122,056); Germany £1,985.6 (N3,673,360) Australia AUD3531.2 (N 3,490,414.64); Kenya is KES15,201 (N172,683.36). In UAE, there is no general minimum wage as it differs from profession to profession. However, for skilled Labourers AED 5,000 (N2,019,435); people with University degrees AED12,000 (N4,846,644); qualified technicians AED 7,000 (N2,827,209); South Korea is 2,010,580 Won (N2,161,574.558)”.

“China differs from city to city. However, Shanghai is RMB 2,690 per month (N551,181) and Heilongjiang RMB 1,450 (N 297,105).Singapore does not prescribe a general minimum wage for all its workers. However, the minimum Singaporean wage is averaged at 6,792SGD/Month = N7,464,408)”.

“Even though Rwanda and Botswana’s minimum wage per month which is RWF 56,668 (N64,602) and P1,168 (N122,056), respectively, appears meagre, the two countries have since put in place social services that cushion the masses’ suffering and put them on a developmental path”.

“Indeed, they are two of the fastest growing economies not only in Africa, but also in the world. We do not have such in Nigeria. Nigeria is perhaps the only country in the world that brazenly defies Isaac Newton’s Law of Motion to the effect that “what goes up must come down”. In Nigeria, once prices of good go up, they never come down”. Are these countries and us not living on the same Planet earth? We are, of course”.



“With the present spirally inflation, N60,000 cannot even buy one bag of rice which today sells for between N80,000 and N120,000 depending on the grade and quality”.

“What is the way forward from this FG-Labour face-off and stalemate? Part of the solution lies in steering a middle course between labour’s N615,500 per month demand and the FG’s proposal of N60,000 per month. This is more so having regard to the impossibility of the private sector, especially small scale businesses and private professions, having the capacity and economic wherewithal to pay such exorbitant wage”.

“Another solution lies in public office holders making deliberate sacrifices in the midst of public angst and disenchantment by cutting down their ostentatiously vulgar lifestyle of ugly display of opulence and their sheer exhibitionism of wealth in mindless convoys of vehicles in the midst of grinding poverty and wretchedness of the masses”.

“The Nigerian people are not happy at all. Anyone who advises the government to the contrary is nothing but a fawner, bootlicker, ego masseur, toady flatterer and clapper”.

https://thescrutinyng.com/index.php/2024/06/05/minimum-wage-n60000-cant-even-buy-a-bag-of-rice-ozekhome/

Labour can continue their strike and leave our lights on please that's all we ask.

Those in government don't know this and don't care about how the masses are surviving

Tinubu is only interested in giving Nigerians a starvation wage

That's is the reality on ground now.

Whereas good luck Jonathan 18k minimum wage comfortably buy a bag of rice at 7 to 8k.
Tinubu has used hike in prices of everything to render Nigerians koboless today as he celebrates the piles of cash they daily racked inn from the masses.
Nigerians have become many times poorer under tinubu govt and the same tinubu is ready to do more.

Light dey before?

jrizlybey:
Labour can continue their strike and leave our lights on please that's all we ask.

starvation wage

So what can N18k buy then when some states are still paying that ridiculous amount as minimum wage?

Minimum wage under jonathan, #18000
Bag of rice under jonathan, #7000

Minimum wage under tinubu, #30000
Bag of rice under tinubu, #85000

Lets do the maths
Since bag of rice is constant, #7000 under jonathan is equivalent to #85000 under tinubu

To determine the value of jonathans minimum wage in tinubus era gives

18000/7000= 2.57143
Recall that every #7000 under jonathan is equivalent to #85000 under tinubu

: . 2.57143 x 85000 = #218,571

So nairalanders
If jonathan of PDP were in charge of nigeria today minimum wage will have been equivalent of #218,571

Labour should endeavour to peg their negotiation to #250000, to accomodate tinubus APC induced inflation
FIXED

TINUBUU vs JONATHAN challenge;
If clueless jonathan can pay it, then technocrat tinubu can pay it.

Forget..those civil servants are making more money than some people in banks. Very corrupt

helinues:
So what can N18k buy then when some states are still paying that ridiculous amount as minimum wage?

Why?

jrizlybey:
Labour can continue their strike and leave our lights on please that's all we ask.

You're not well my friend

helinues:
So what can N18k buy then when some states are still paying that ridiculous amount as minimum wage?

Minimum wage under jonathan, #18000
Bag of rice under jonathan, #7000

Minimum wage under tinubu, #30000
Bag of rice under tinubu, #85000

Lets do the maths
Since bag of rice is constant, #7000 under jonathan is equivalent to #85000 under tinubu

To determine the value of jonathans minimum wage in tinubus era gives

18000/7000= 2.57143
Recall that every #7000 under jonathan is equivalent to #85000 under tinubu

: . 2.57143 x 85000 = #218,571

So nairalanders
If jonathan of PDP were in charge of nigeria today minimum wage will have been equivalent of #218,571

Labour should endeavour to peg their negotiation to #250000, to accomodate tinubus APC induced inflation
FIXED

TINUBUU vs JONATHAN challenge;
If clueless jonathan can pay it, then technocrat tinubu can pay it.

Drugnubu don tire!

I don't know if some people are ignorant or they choose to deliberately misinform the people.


Minimum wage might be 30k now, but nobody that works for the government actually earn 30k, unless of course, where it wasn't properly implemented.


Minimum wage is basic salary, excluding allowances and overtimes. Someone on a 60k minimum wage might end up earning close to 100k after statutory deductions.