The
Nigeria Labour Congress on Thursday attacked the Nigeria Governors’ Forum for
saying that there would be economic crisis in Nigeria if President Muhammadu
Buhari went ahead to present an executive bill on N30, 000 minimum wage to the
National Assembly as demanded by organised labour.
A
governor, who spoke on condition of anonymity for the NGF, had claimed that 30
states would be affected adversely by the new minimum wage, stressing that the
wage should be pegged at N22, 500.
The
governor had said, “Now, if the President goes ahead to send a bill that will
contain N30,000 to the National Assembly without considering what we have told
him, there will be crisis in the country. We will wait to see what will happen.
I’m sure that the National Assembly will not pass the bill this year.”
But in an exclusive interview
with one of our correspondents in Abuja on Thursday, NLC’s Head of Information
and Public Affairs, Mr Benson Upah, said the governors were not being fair to
President Buhari’s intention and Nigerian workers.
According
to him, the governors would do Nigeria a great favour if they cut down on their
financial excesses that were not accounted for.
He reiterated the NLC position
that there was evidence of governors who could pay more than N30,000 during
negotiation for the new minimum wage.
Upah said,“The governors who
are pushing that agenda are not being fair to Buhari, the NLC and their own
people that they sought through elections to serve.
“The first thing to note is
that the tripartite process that produced this N30,000 minimum wage remains
unimpeachable. It is clear, transparent and cannot be subjected to another
round of arguments.
“In
fact, the governors should apologise to the citizens for frustrating the
process up to this moment. They should be ashamed.
“We will tell them not to come to Abuja to complain, they should stay in their
respective states and tell the workers that they will not pay N30,000. They
should not hide under any association because it (NGF) is not recognised by the
constitution. Let that governor go and address his workers.
“When on Tuesday, labour
mobilised its members to all government houses on this matter, why did the
governors not tell them that they cannot pay. Anyone that cannot pay must not
seek re-election. I am happy Buhari also said this.”
While
explaining that the new wage was not the same as having a uniform pay structure
for all states in Nigeria, the NLC noted that the proposed wage was not a
favour for the workers.
“What we did on Tuesday is a
fraction of what labour is capable of doing. We will continue to mobilise
against governors that we suspect will not fall in line with us.
“We
have the number, the will and the resources to ensure that such governors will
not succeed. The national minimum wage is not a favour.
“It is the irreducible minimum
wage that the least worker in Nigeria can take. It is not the same as having a
uniform pay structure across the country. Most governors seek to create wrong
impression about it.
“The
Minister of Internal Affairs told us that every prisoner is fed with N14,000 a
day. Do workers who contribute to national development not deserve better?
“Some states like Rivers and
Kano voluntarily offered to pay more than N30,000. Governors should have the
free will to pay workers, reduce corruption and cut down on the cost of
governance.”
PUNCH.......
0 Comments