The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday warned of an imminent industrial action to compel recalcitrant governors to implement the N18,000 minimum wage law in their states.
NLC President, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar, during a visit to Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, said governors who were yet to implement the N18,000 minimum wage as approved by the federal government should brace up for an industrial action that would soon be embarked upon by workers.
Omar’s warning came as fresh facts emerged on why labour leaders were divided over the industrial action declared to agitate for the full implementation of minimum wage in Osun State.
Omar, who fielded questions from journalists, lamented that up till now, several states are yet to decide on what to pay their workers as agreed with labour, which had conceded that states with proven evidence of inability to pay N18,000 as minimum wage should negotiate with labour leaders in their domains on what to pay.
He stated that it was important to call the erring states to order, as the federal government had created an enduring platform for the states to pay their workers
While urging the affected states to brace up for what he described as a ‘titanic battle’ with the workers, Omar said the labour unions would soon fine-tune arrangements on how to compel the erring states to commence the implementation of the minimum wage law.
Omar added that labour would not be deterred in its advocacy for a living wage for all workers in the country, saying its demand for N52,000 minimum wage before it was reduced to N18,000 through negotiation was not meant to cripple the government financially.
He pointed out that the measure was targeted at improving the welfare of workers and vowed that states flouting the minimum wage law would soon be resisted by labour.
According to him, the N18,000 minimum wage is too meagre for any state to say it cannot afford to pay it.
He further explained that the insistence on the payment of the N18,000 minimum wage was ongoing, stressing that workers would continue to agitate for its realisation.
JD:All this is hot air.How an NLC can even accept a minimum wage of 18,000 naira as minimum wage inthe midst of wastages and corruption in government beats ones imagination.Compare the 18k to what political office holders and members of the national assembly get as monthly stipend and you will not but feel shame for this country.Lets not even talk of what is eventually taken home.Its important to know that people are not fooled,and if their situation is not improved and they have no credible leader,isnt there a possibility they might just want to take their fate in their hands?
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