The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) is calling for a significant increase in Nigeria’s minimum wage, citing economic hardships faced by workers nationwide. At their 5th national delegates conference in Abuja, NAAT President Ibeji Nwokoma emphasized the urgent need for a living wage that reflects the rising cost of living.
Nwokoma pointed to the removal of fuel subsidies, inflation, and currency exchange rate volatility as significant burdens on Nigerian workers. He argued that Nigeria should adopt a living wage model, ensuring workers have a decent standard of living.
Nwokoma compared Nigeria’s minimum wage to other African nations, highlighting the need for wages that align with the cost of living. To address current economic realities, he proposed a N350,000 minimum monthly wage for Nigerian workers.
While advocating for worker well-being, Nwokoma also lamented the underfunding of tertiary institutions in Nigeria. He highlighted UNESCO’s recommendation for a minimum 26% allocation of the national budget to education, which Nigeria consistently falls short of. This lack of funding contributes to infrastructural deficiencies in universities and other institutions.
During the conference, Minister of Education Prof. Tahir Mamman defended the minimum age requirement of 18 for university admissions, citing concerns about student vulnerability to negative influences. However, on a positive note, Mamman announced plans to introduce skills and technology education throughout the curriculum, from primary to tertiary levels. Integrating these subjects aims to bridge the unemployment gap in Nigeria.
NAAT’s proposals and conference discussions reflect ongoing efforts to address Nigeria’s economic challenges and improve the education sector.
