By our correspondent
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen George Akume has said that the ₦100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) reported to be the likely new National minimum Wage for workers in Nigeria will be too much for him, saying that he won’t be able to pay his four drivers.
Recall that the organized labour had declared a nationwide indefinite Strike which started on Monday, June 3. Amongst their demands were that the Federal Government must reverse the electricity tariff increment which it had increased from N65/kWh to N225/kWh amidst hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.
The industrial action was temporarily suspended on Tuesday to pave the way for further negotiations with the Federal Government.
As at the time of this report, the federal government team and the Labour Movement have yet to arrive at the agreed new national minimum wage. But, insinuations are rife that they are likely to agree on between ₦100,000 and ₦105,000.
Reacting to the ‘rumours’, the SGF said it would be difficult for him to pay his domestic staff if the government agreed to pay the rumoured One Hundred Thousand Naira.
SGF George Akume was quoted by the Media to have said “I can’t afford to pay my drivers ₦100,000 each because they are four of them, along with other dependants.
“Labour initially demanded ₦600,000, which equates to approximately ₦9.9 trillion for the federal government. Where do we get that money from? Then labour reduced it to ₦400,000, which still amounts to over ₦5 trillion.
“We are asking for understanding because we simply cannot meet these demands.”
Efforts to get details of monthly salary of a serving SGF including remunerations for his domestic staff were not successful as information gathered by our correspondents were sketchy. But, a recently published details of remuneration of a senator in Nigeria is as follows:
Monthly Basic Salary (B.S):
N2,484,245.50.
Hardship Allowance:
(50% of B.S),N1,242,122.70.
Constituency Allowance:
(200% of B.S),N4,968,509.00.
Newspapers Allowance:
(50% of B.S) –
N1,242,122.70.
Wardrobe Allowance:
(25% of B.S),N621,061.37.
Recess Allowance:
(10% of B.S),N248,424.55.
Accommodation:
(200% of B.S),N4,968,509.00.
Utilities:
(30% of B.S),N828,081.83.
Domestic Staff:
(70% of B.S),N1,863,184.12
Entertainment:
(30% of B.S),N828,081.83.
Personal Assistants:
(25% of B.S),N621,061.12.
Vehicle Maintenance Allowance:
(75% of B.S),N1,863,184.12.
Leave Allowance:
(10% of* B.S),N248,424.55.
Severance Gratuity:
(300% of B.S),N7,452,736.50.
Car Allowance:
(400% of B.S),N9,936,982.00.
TOTAL MONTHLY SALARY:
N29,479,749.00 ($181,974.00).
TOTAL YEARLY SALARY:
N29,479,749.00 x 12 =
N353,756,988.00.