Don’t review national minimum wage now – NECA

The Organised Private Sector (OPS) under the Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA) yesterday urged labour and other stakeholders in the country demanding review of the national minimum wage to shelve the idea for now.

Its president, Mr. Larry Ettah, who made the appeal at a press conference in Lagos, said adjustment of national minimum wage was not tenable in view of the unemployment and recession in the country.

He said: “Given the depreciation in the value of the Naira as well as inflation currently at 18.6 percent, a strong case can be made for raising Nigeria’s minimum wage. However we counsel that such a step be preceded by a comprehensive review and restructuring of the public services of the federal, states and local governments. Given that such restructuring may not be expedient in this period of recession of recession and rising unemployment, our recommendation is that a review of the minimum wage should be differed until the economy has resumed strong growth and public finances have improved.”