Business
Experts Criticize New N70,000 Minimum Wage as Insufficient Amid Economic Strain
Economists and political analysts have expressed significant concern over the recently approved minimum wage of N70,000 for Nigerian workers.
In interviews conducted with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abakaliki, these experts criticized the amount as insufficient given the country’s current economic challenges.
On Thursday, President Bola Tinubu approved the N70,000 minimum wage for civil servants, with a commitment to review this amount every three years.
Despite this commitment, Mr. Collins Anike, an economist, argued that the newly approved wage falls short of addressing workers’ needs and does not fully reflect the economic realities faced by the public.
He acknowledged the President’s intention to revisit the wage periodically but emphasized that the initial amount should have been set higher to better align with the demands of the populace.
Political analyst Mr. Titus Ezeh echoed similar sentiments, urging the government to undertake a comprehensive review of key economic sectors.
He highlighted the need for adjustments in areas such as inflation control, energy tariffs, and food security. Ezeh stressed that addressing these issues is crucial to alleviating the financial strain on the general population.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Regina Agbo, a petty trader, voiced her concerns about the adverse effects of increased electricity tariffs on small businesses and the broader economy.
She pointed out that the rising costs of production and the escalating prices of goods have created significant difficulties for businesses and the economic system at large.
The discrepancy between the government’s approved minimum wage and the demands of the organized labor is notable.
While organized labor had proposed a minimum wage of N250,000, the government and the private sector had recommended a lower figure of N62,000.
This gap highlights the ongoing debate over fair compensation and the need for economic policies that better support workers amidst prevailing economic conditions.
Bitcoin has fallen below $63,000, reaching its lowest level since October 2024 amid weakening investor confidence and increased volatility in the cryptocurrency market.
According to CoinMarketCap data, Bitcoin dropped 13.9 per cent to $62,965 as of 10:20 p.m. on Thursday. The decline comes after months of downward movement, with the cryptocurrency now more than 45 per cent below its October peak.
Ethereum also recorded a sharp decline, falling 13 per cent to $1,863, while the global cryptocurrency market capitalisation dropped to $2.19 trillion.
Analysts reportedly linked the latest decline to a broader sell-off in US technology stocks, which has also affected other risk assets. Bitcoin had reached an all-time high of more than $125,000 on October 5 before falling sharply in the days that followed, highlighting the continued volatility in the crypto market.
Businessman Aliko Dangote has explained why he believes Nigerians should participate in the ownership of his refinery by purchasing shares.
He was asked by singer Davido why Nigerians should participate, and Dangote explained that the initiative would help spread wealth and prosperity across Africa.
“Well, it’s very important because that is the only way to spread prosperity and wealth throughout Africa. And like I said, this is not going to be the first and the last. We will continue with even our fertilizer. By the time we finish listing, every single one will own part of our businesses and we will create a pool of cash…”
He explained that the goal is to create opportunities for more Nigerians to own a stake in the businesses and help spread wealth across the country.
Aliko Dangote speaks on his lineage and addresses not having a son as he was asked about not having a son to carry his name and achievements.
“That is not my priority because God controls everything. You can pray for God to give you a son, but he might be the one to take down the name of the family.”
Instead, he shared that he does not mind not having a son. “I don’t think a son would have done better than the three daughters I have.”
Aside from that, he was also asked about giving advice to young Nigerians. “Work hard, be consistent, focused and know what you want to do.”
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