The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded N794,000 as the new minimum wage for the government workforce in the South-West region.

Funmi Sessi, chairperson of the NLC in Lagos, made the demand on behalf of the workers on Thursday in Lagos.

Ms Sessi, who spoke during her presentation at the public hearing of the tripartite committee on national minimum wage, said members of the NLC in the region jointly agreed on the demand.

The fresh demand came after the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, asked President Bola Tinubu-led government to brace up for N1 million.

Mr Ajaero said the demand was a reflection of galloping inflation in the country and floating of the nation’s currency, naira.

“This N1 million may be relevant if the value of the Nigerian (naira) continues to depreciate and if the inflation is not checked because the demand of labour is equally dependent on what is happening in the society.

“You will remember that by the time we were contemplating N200,000, the exchange rate was about N800/N900. As we talk today, the exchange rate is about N1,400 or even more,” he said last week.

Vice President Kashim Shettima had, on January 30, inaugurated a 37-member panel on the new minimum wage.

Chaired by Bukar Goni Aji, the former head of service of the federation, the committee comprises representatives of the federal and state governments, the private sector and organised labour.