Our Stagnant Wages Can’t Sustain Us Any Longer, Workers Lament

Nigerian workers have decried the high cost of living, saying their monthly salaries are no longer enough to meet basic needs, following the ripple effects of the removal of the fuel subsidy, which has aggravated financial burdens on citizens, with some dying suddenly of high blood pressure. ABDULLAHI OLESIN, Ilorin; ALO ABIOLA, Ado-Ekiti; JOSHUA DADA, Osogbo; NNAMDI MBAWIKE, Enugu; OKEM GREEN MBAH, Yenagoa; FELIX IGBEKOYI, Asaba; KALU EZIYI, Umuahia; INIOBONG EKPONTA, Uyo; and  ACHOR ABIMAJE, Jos, report.

The widening gap between wages and the rising cost of living has continued to push many Nigerian workers into difficult economic conditions, with salary earners lamenting that their monthly income can no longer meet basic needs.

Since the federal government removed the fuel subsidy, prices of petroleum products, transportation, food items, rent,  and other essential services have increased sharply across the country. While inflation continues to rise, many workers said that salaries have remained largely stagnant, leaving families struggling to survive.

Findings by our correspondents showed that workers in both the public and private sectors are increasingly struggling to cover daily expenses, as transportation alone now accounts for a significant share of monthly earnings.

In Kwara State, workers have decried the high cost of living and demanded palliatives to cushion their burdens.

Though those who spoke with LEADERSHIP Sunday said that the state government is not owing them salaries, they said the Naira devaluation and the high cost of rent and transportation have rendered their salaries useless.

“The high cost of living and the high transport fare have rendered our salaries useless. I’m a GL 15 officer, but my salary can hardly last me for three weeks. I have to resort to borrowing from friends and our cooperative society to enable me to meet the needs of my family,” a civil servant said.

When contacted, the chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Kwara State, Comrade Saheed Murtala, confirmed that workers are having difficulty providing for their families.

He identified the high cost of living and rising transportation costs as factors that have reduced workers’ purchasing power.

Murtala said the union had written letters to the governor requesting palliatives for workers to cushion the effects of the economic hardship they are facing.

“We have asked the governor to work out palliatives for the workers, as their salaries are no longer enough to feed them and their families. We mentioned some states that have implemented palliatives for their workers in our letter. We are optimistic that our governor will listen to us as he usually does,” Murtala said.

In Ekiti State, many residents, including salary earners, have been struggling with the ever-skyrocketing prices of food items, household materials, goods, and services, with little disposable income.

A civil servant in Ekiti State, who simply identified himself as Mr Ojo, said high-cost goods and services in the country are adversely affecting his living standard and that of his family.

Ojo, who traced the problem back to over three years ago when the fuel subsidy was removed by the Federal Government, said he has been struggling to provide the basic needs of life, especially food, clothing and shelter for his family in spite of the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage.

He said, “My house rent has been increased twice, prices of food have gone up, my wife, children, and I now spend more than 500 per cent of what we used to spend about three years ago on transport to our different destinations on a daily basis. Aside from that, there is no extra income to continue the work on my personal house project like before.”

Ojo said that since there is no fresh increase in the salary, he has been following one of his friends to construction sites on weekends to work as a bricklayer assistant while his wife, who is a fashion designer, has also added the operation of a POS and other petty trading to her business to augment the family’s finances.

Also speaking at the LEADERSHIP Sunday in Ado-Ekiti, another salary earner, Mr Adekunle Ogunlade, who works for a private company, decried the high cost of living, saying that basic necessities, including food, are gradually becoming unaffordable for many Nigerians.

Ogunlad, who posited that the current, ever-increasing fuel price has worsened the country’s economic situation, said the amount he receives as a monthly salary can hardly cater for his own needs, let alone, who posited that the current ever-increasing fuel price has worsened the economic situation in the country, said the amount he is getting as a monthly salary can hardly cater for his own needs, not to mention his entire family of four.

He said, “My brother, I must confess to you, as a worker in a private organisation, I earn less than N70,000, which is the approved current national minimum wage. With a wife and two children, how do we manage that for a whole month? Prices of goods and services are soaring every now and then. I used to spend at least N1,500 on transport to and from work every day. Now, with fuel prices rising, it is more than N2,000. So, I now trek some distance to work or get assistance from neighbours and friends who are mobile to reduce what I spend on transport fare.”

Ogunlade added that he has been farming for over 2 years, planting yams, maize, cassava, and vegetables, primarily to support the family’s food sources.

Speaking in Ado-Ekiti, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Kolapo Olatunde, urged the federal government to commence a review of the workers’ minimum wage, currently N70,000, every two years.

“The negotiation for the review of minimum wage has been cut down by the president from every four years to every two years. So, he must ensure that something reasonable is given to the Nigerian workers to ameliorate their suffering,” he said.

Olatunde lamented the biting economic hardship Nigerian workers are facing, saying the sharp increase in the price of premium motor spirit (PMS), which has risen to about N1,450 per litre in some parts of the country, has driven up the cost of transportation and essential services.

Also speaking on the state of the economy, his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Comrade (Dr) Omotola Farotimi, called for the adoption of living wage policies, expansion of social protection programmes, improved access to credit for small businesses and skills development aligned with market demands for workers.

In Osun State, salary earners have lamented the high cost of living, largely attributed to hikes in petroleum products and suffocating taxation directly imposed on them and indirectly imposed on basic materials needed for survival.

A federal government worker, Bola Akinlolu, said that any wage increase cannot meet basic survival needs, given the current cost of living in Nigeria.

She noted that if the prices of petroleum products such as petrol, diesel, gas, and lubricating oils, among others, are made affordable today, and the government relaxes taxation on goods, the lubricating oils, among others, are made affordable today and the government relaxes taxation on goods, prices of goods, including food items, will reduce drastically, bringing relief that would cut across the board.

Akinlolu maintained that an average civil servant is currently living from hand to mouth, thereby increasing sudden death among them caused by high blood pressure, adding that she is also a victim of high blood pressure caused by mounting pressure for survival.

Also, a trade unionist and secretary of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Boredun chapter, Comrade Adebayo Adekunle, while aligning with demands for wage increase, said the masses are suffering, and the best thing for the government to do is to do what will be of benefit to them and alleviate their suffering.

According to him, the amount the Nigeria Labour Congress is clamouring for as a minimum wage is insufficient as a living wage given the current cost of living in Nigeria, adding that the key to alleviating Nigerians’ suffering lies in the hands of the federal government.

In Enugu State, a teacher who identified herself as Mrs Amarachi Moneme said they are currently finding it difficult to feed their families and pay other bills because the N80,000 minimum wage has been eroded by inflation caused by the removal of the fuel subsidy.

She stated that the minimum wage is not even enough to cover her children’s school fees, adding that, without assistance from her relatives and husband, her children would have stopped attending school.

On how they are coping with the situation, she disclosed that she has learned to do other things after school, like giving lessons to students, to survive.

“Honestly, it is not easy for some of us who are currently earning the minimum wage because the money is not enough considering the current inflation. I know that the governor tried by making our minimum wage higher than in some states, but the inflation has eaten up the money,” she stated.

Another civil servant, Mr Obinna Maduagwu, said the N80,000 minimum wage is not enough to feed his family of six, adding that after removing money for transportation to work, he is left with almost nothing.

“The N80,000 minimum wage is not enough. If I tell you how much I spend on transportation alone, you will agree it’s not enough. We are only coping through other side-jobs and businesses after work,” he stated.

Other workers who spoke with our correspondent urged the government to find other ways to make them relatively comfortable and provide subsidies for them.

In an interview with LEADERSHIP Sunday, the Enugu State chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Simeon Akaem, said the N80,000 minimum wage, which came as a wage award, has been overtaken by inflation.

He noted that though the minimum wage was occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy, the price of fuel has continued to increase, making life difficult for workers.

The TUC chairman averred that, given inflation and the high cost of fuel, workers don’t even feel as if their salaries have been increased.

He said that, though workers’ needs are unlimited, they are only asking for welfare packages that will make them relatively comfortable.

Comrade Akaeme said the welfare packages must not be salary increments, suggesting that the government should provide other welfare packages for workers outside salary increases.

He also urged the government to provide subsidies on certain items for workers in the state, especially transportation, to reduce their burden.

An aide to Governor Peter Mbah, who did not want his name mentioned, said salary increments and welfare packages for workers are the prerogative of the governor, adding that the governor has been friendly to workers since he assumed office.

“Our governor has been a friendly governor to workers. He raised the minimum wage above the suggested level, and I’m sure he has workers’ interests in mind in the state. If the workers come up with a good suggestion, I believe he will look into the demands,” he stated.

In Bayelsa State, workers said rising living costs have deepened their hardship despite ongoing talks to raise their wages. Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Comrade Barnabas Simon, said organised labour had already begun discussions towards a fresh salary review to address the economic realities facing workers.

According to him, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) are working in advance to ensure that negotiations for a new wage structure begin before the current salary arrangement expires.

He said, “We Nigerians are good at trying to cope with difficult situations, but the hardship is becoming too much. NLC and TUC have begun discussions on the need for a new national salary structure. We do not want a situation where the current wage expires before negotiations begin. We are working seriously ahead of time to avoid unnecessary delays.”

A salary earner, David West, described the economic situation as unbearable, noting that the removal of fuel subsidy triggered a sharp increase in the prices of goods and services.

He said many workers now spend almost all their salaries on transportation and food, while the naira’s purchasing power continues to decline.

“It has not been easy for Nigerians. Since the removal of the fuel subsidy, everything has gone up. The minimum wage means nothing because transportation, food and other costs keep increasing every day. Even if someone earns N200,000 today, it still cannot meet the demands of the present economy,” he said.

A worker, Dr John Angase, said the widening gap between wages and living costs had left workers helpless, stressing that many families now survive from hand to mouth.

He noted that transport fares alone consume a large share of workers’ salaries, especially in states like Bayelsa, where some civil servants spend as much as N2,000 daily on commuting to and from work.

“When you calculate transportation costs in a month, a large part of the salary is already gone. Workers are suffering seriously. There is no proper price control in the country, and everyone increases prices due to rising fuel prices. The average worker is at the mercy of traders and service providers,” he said.

Another resident, Miss Sophia Kiarama, said the increase in fuel prices, electricity tariffs and food costs has made life difficult for salary earners and low-income families.

She lamented that even basic services such as electricity and water now cost very high prices despite poor supply, adding that many Nigerians are simply enduring the hardship because they have no alternative.

“It is not easy at all. Everything is expensive now: food, fuel, electricity and transportation. Even those receiving salaries are complaining seriously, so imagine people without a stable income. The situation is becoming harder every day,” she said.

In Delta State, a director at one of the ministries, Ogene Salvation, said the removal of the fuel subsidy has led to harsh living conditions for workers, especially in food and transportation. “A fare of N500 before the removal of the fuel subsidy has skyrocketed to over N1,000, and this has not just affected workers but their families also.

“The living conditions of many workers have declined significantly, which could adversely impact serious-minded workers and prevent them from dedication to duty.

“We now survive by depending on borrowing from cooperatives. Despite the fact that the interest is not friendly, it keeps us alive till the end of the month when another salary will come.

“Most times, we rely on the little support from our wives in their menial trades, especially those who are not civil servants, but the hike in fuel prices has affected businesses across various sectors, from transportation to manufacturing. High operating costs have led to job losses and even business closures of our wives.”

Mary Osadebey , who works with the Ministry of Agriculture, said that subsistence farming has also become an alternative to help people survive the removal of the fuel subsidy, but agriculture has not been immune to its effects. Higher fuel prices increase production, transportation, and storage costs, leading to reduced food production and higher food prices.

A youth corps member stated, “It may be funny, but the reality is that the removal of fuel subsidy has led to youths surviving through crimes. Many youths now support their parents through cybercrimes, yahoo yahoo, prostitution, deception and other dubious means while civil servants get involved in kickbacks, age falsification, corruption and the like.”

The state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Goodluck Ofobruk, said that when the promised economic relief failed to arrive, said when the promised economic relief did not arrive, and workers faced severe economic pressure, the NLC shifted to demanding urgent palliatives and a minimum wage review to cushion the effects.

The Delta NLC engaged the state government to secure wage increases to help workers cope with the rising cost of living.

His counterpart in the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Asekutu Wilson, said it is essential to implement measures to minimise the grave effects on the most vulnerable in society.

He said the TUC has recommended that the government carefully evaluate the impact of removing the fuel subsidy on individuals, families, and businesses, and provide palliatives and other economic relief programmes to minimise the adverse effects on individuals and firms.

Checks in Abia State indicated that since the removal of the fuel subsidy, life has not been the same for salaried workers, as they complained about the rising cost of living.

However, many of them said that, as a way out, they have been engaging in alternative or additional sources of income, such as petty trading, to weather the storm.

“To make ends meet, I have gone into tricycle operation, which I’m proud to say has become my major source of income,” volunteered a staff member of one of the state ministries, who pleaded anonymity.

Checks further revealed that some have minimised their expenses and prioritised their needs, according to a school teacher, to ensure “they remain afloat.”

Reacting to the development, a labour unionist in Umuahia South local government area, Godswill Acha, said it is in situations like this that they have been clamouring for a living wage.

On his part, the chairman of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Plateau State chapter, Comrade Yohana Arandong, said Nigerian workers are surviving by the grace of God.

According to him, since the removal of the fuel subsidy and the current situation in the Middle East, petrol pump prices have increased from N900 to N1400 per litre, while transportation costs and the prices of goods and services have also risen astronomically.

He insisted that workers are not finding it easy, adding that the minimum wage of N70,000 cannot buy them foodstuffs, let alone paying house rent and other utility bills.

Arandong appealed to the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, review the N70,000 minimum wage, revisit the removal of fuel subsidy or introduce palliative measures to ameliorate the suffering of workers.

Speaking on how he has been coping amid the economic hardship, a staff member of the State Ministry of Works, who did not want his name mentioned, told our correspondent that he has started rearing pigs and chickens in  his backyard to augment the little salary he is earning.

According to him, the N70,000 minimum wage is not sustainable, adding that one needs to think outside the box to survive the prevailing economic hardship.

Another worker, Mrs Sarah Yohana, told our correspondent that she has begun storing grains such as white corn, rice and ‘Acha’ during harvest to be sold in July,  when most farmers must have planted what is left.

According to her, the little gain she makes is used to pay her house rent and the children’s school fees.

In Akwa Ibom State, residents, especially low- and middle-income earners, have lamented that their lives are at a tipping point.

“I earn a monthly salary of N130,000 as a senior local government worker, but ask me how much remains between the point of collecting the salary and the next one. I have five children with four in schools, but at the end of every month, what is left is almost nothing,” a public servant at Ibesikpo Asutan local government area, Ime Thompson, lamented.

“What we do is monthly contributions with five of us, so we could have bulk money to take care of our immediate needs before the next salary comes,” Effiong Daniel Akpan, a civil servant, told our correspondent at the Idongesit Nkanga State secretariat, Abak Road, Uyo.

Another resident, Unwana Ette, working in the registry office at the federal secretariat, disclosed that “the federal government has provided cash relief for federal workers, but it still does not address the prevailing challenges occasioned by the petroleum industry crisis with high transportation costs.

However, speaking with LEADERSHIP Sunday, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Sunny James, assured of wage increase as negotiations to that effect were ongoing with the Governor Umo Eno-led government.

“We are negotiating with the government to see how the problem could be cushioned, like what the federal government is doing for the federal workers, as well as Oyo, Lagos and other state governments,” he stated.