The leader of the opposition caucus in the House of Representatives, Representative Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, has provided explanations for why 42 lawmakers supported a motion advocating for a living wage for Nigerian workers.
Chinda, who hails from Rivers State, along with 41 other lawmakers representing various states and Abuja, presented the motion on living wage during a recent plenary session.
Expanding on the motion, Chinda stated, “Currently, no lawmaker in Nigeria is content with the state of affairs in the country. This is why we are advocating for a living wage for all Nigerian workers. The current take-home pay is insufficient to sustain workers. We are deeply concerned about the prevailing circumstances.”
He pointed out the adverse impact of the country’s rising inflation rate on the cost of living, affecting every aspect of life. Referring to data from Trade Economics in 2018, he noted that the living wage for an individual Nigerian and a Nigerian family was estimated at N43,200 and N137,600 per month, respectively, although this was before subsidy removal.
Chinda emphasized that presently, no worker can afford to live in Nigeria with a monthly wage of less than N100,000. He also cited a World Bank report indicating that the high inflation rate has led to reduced purchasing power, resulting in increased poverty nationwide.
Chinda assured Nigerians that the resolutions passed by the House of Representatives have been set in motion, and an ad hoc committee will transmit the outcomes to the Senate for swift approval. He affirmed the lawmakers’ commitment to finding a permanent solution to the issue, stressing that they will continue to advocate for the welfare of Nigerians as their representatives.