N70,000 relief not enough for workers – NLC counters Oshiomhole

The Kaduna branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has pushed back against Senator Adams Oshiomhole over the Federal Government’s plan to pay workers N70,000 every month as transport support.

Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North and once led the NLC, had appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday.

During the programme, he praised the move and said it proved President Bola Tinubu was concerned about the welfare of workers.

“I think this government is doing well. If a man who was on N70,000 now is given N70,000 addition, that makes it N140,000 for him; it’s a hundred percent increase, and if you know what N10,000 means for the real masses, you’ll appreciate that Tinubu has shown that he cares,” Oshiomhole said.

Its chairman, Comrade Ayuba Magaji Suleiman, described the allowance as a step in the right direction, but stressed that it will only bring short-term comfort, stating that it cannot wipe out the daily struggles workers face.

According to Suleiman, many workers can no longer cope with household bills, saying that food prices, transport fares, rent, school fees, hospital bills, electricity and cooking gas have all gone up too.

Breaking down the figures, Suleiman said that with the new payment, a worker will take home N170,000 in all, explaining that the figure covers the N70,000 minimum wage, the N30,000 wage award paid monthly, and the fresh N70,000 transport support.

He further said that the money cannot shield workers from the high cost of living in the country.

He argued that talks on a fresh wage should start from N500,000, so that pay can match what workers actually spend to survive.

Suleiman also urged federal and state governments to go beyond salary reviews, asking them to bring down the cost of living through measures like cheaper public transport and other support that will make life easier for workers.