Femi Emodamori, a legal practitioner based in Ondo, has strongly criticized the Nigerian government’s continued adherence to the N30,000 minimum wage for public servants, labeling it as unjust. In a statement released in Akure, the capital of Ondo state, Emodamori called upon President Bola Tinubu to address the dire state of minimum wage payment and elevate it to a level that ensures a dignified life for Nigerian workers.

“The current N30,000 minimum wage in Nigeria equates to a mere $40, which I find to be nothing short of a slave wage,” remarked Mr. Emodamori.

He highlighted that the existing minimum wage in Nigeria contravenes Article 23 (3) of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This article emphasizes the right of all workers to fair and favorable compensation that allows for a life of human dignity, supplemented as necessary with social protection.

Mr. Emodamori pointed out that over the past two years, the Nigerian Senate has raised the daily feeding allowance for inmates from N450 to N1,000, equivalent to the N30,000 monthly minimum wage paid to Nigerian workers. He drew attention to the disparities between prisoners and civil servants, noting that prisoners do not bear expenses such as rent, transportation, and utilities, while the same amount is offered to workers with additional financial responsibilities.

The legal practitioner argued that the minimum wage for Nigerian workers should at least match the daily feeding allowance of prisoners, suggesting that a man supporting a family of four should receive no less than N120,000 monthly to provide for basic needs. He emphasized that this amount would merely equate to the portion allocated for prisoners’ feeding. Emodamori highlighted the need to alleviate the growing dissatisfaction and anger among Nigerians by implementing a realistic and fair living wage.

Source: Peoples Gazette