N56,000 minimum wage: You get what you negotiate, not what you want – Oshiomhole tells NLC

Former labour leader now Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has indicated that the N56,000 which the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, proposed to the Federal Government as the new national minimum wage will not turn out to be the final amount to be agreed upon by both parties.

The NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba had told journalists that "I can say authoritatively that as of yesterday (Tuesday), we have made a formal demand of N56,000 minimum wage to government," arguing that as a matter of policy, the minimum wage is expected to be reviewed every five years and that the current minimum wage was negotiated when the naira was exchanging for N100 to $1.

But speaking with State House correspondents yesterday, Oshiomhole pointed out that he believes in a living wage, but told his erstwhile comrades that "Man proposes, God disposes and in the real world, nobody gets what he wants, you get what you negotiate."

He said further, "I have not seen the document proposing a new minimum wage but believing in your judgment that it is a proposal, from my own experience there is always a difference between a proposal and a final agreement.

"Any day any time, wake me up, I believe in a living wage," the former NLC President declared.