‘Why private sector can’t pay minimum wage’

The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) has explained why its members could not pay the proposed national minimum wage. Its Director-General, Mr Olusegun Oshinowo, said at a briefing in Lagos that they could not pay because of the recession which has affected their members’ businesses.

He said the association would canvass this position at the National Minimum Wage Committee meeting. He maintained that all stakeholders should join hands with the government to ensure job security and job creation.

He said: “There was, indeed, an understanding that the National Minimum Wage would be due for discussion after five years and the demand for pay rise by the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) was legitimate.