There were mixed reactions to the new N70,000 minimum wage for civil servants in the country by President Bola Tinubu in Enugu.

While some praised the president for ending the crises surrounding the minimum wage, others said the amount was too small given the economic realities in the country.

Mr Tinubu, on Thursday, approved N70,000 new minimum wage during a meeting with the leadership of the organised labour in Abuja.

If upheld by the National Assembly, the new minimum wage will replace the N30,000 minimum wage, which expired on April 18, 2024.

Reacting to the development, an Enugu-based lawyer and president of Citizens’ Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), Olu Omotayo, lauded Mr Tinubu for ending the long negotiation between the organised labour and tripartite committee on minimum wage.

According to him, Mr Tinubu has shown a way forward by wading into the matter and convincing labour to accept N70,000 minimum wage. 

He noted that the amount of labour they were seeking initially was not attainable as the country’s civil servants population was minimal compared to the over 200 million Nigerians that the government would also take care of.

He, however, urged full implementation of the minimum wage to enable workers to benefit from it.

A civil servant, Matthew Ugbo, commended the labour leaders and the federal government for agreeing after a long deliberation.

Mr Ugbo urged the government to urgently send the bill to the National Assembly for possible accelerated passage and recommended the immediate implementation of the bill when passed into law.

Godsown Onuzulike, president of The Potters Wheel, Enugu, while lauding Tinubu, observed that the amount could not do anything for workers given to people’s basic daily needs and the cost of things in the market.

According to him, it will not do anything for a civil servant with a family of four to cater for. 

He added that the only way it could benefit civil servants was if they cut their expenses, advising them to choose affordable schools for their children, accommodations, and other things they needed.

“They should shun expensive private schools and accommodation to be able to manage the minimum and meet up with daily needs,” he said.

A civil servant, Christian Alumona, while noting that the amount was too little to compare with the hard economic situation in the country, said, 

“How can I cope with N70,000 minimum wage when a bag of rice is almost N100,000? How can we survive as civil servants? This is a difficult one. I expected a minimum wage of N100,000 to N150,000,” he said.

He noted that the amount would not be the same again after consequential adjustment had been made, saying it may be reduced to N60,000 after deductions.

Another civil servant, Lilian Okolo, said she was unhappy with the announcement of N70,000 minimum wage.

“The amount won’t do anything for us. It cannot fuel our car comfortably for a month as a litre of fuel is sold at N780 in Enugu. With that amount, it is going to be difficult for civil servants. I was expecting at least N100,000 minimum wage,” Ms Okolo said. 

(NAN)