they can no longer afford to pay the ₦18,000
($90) monthly minimum wage for state workers.
They announced this yesterday, on Thursday
November 19, 2015 at the National Economic
Council meeting in Abuja.
The governors blamed the steep fall in the price
of crude oil from $126 to the current $41 per
barrel.
Ayuba Wabba , President of the National Labour
Congress (NLC) has already expressed opposition
to the move, citing higher cost of living, “₦18,000
cannot take any worker to the bus stop”, and
denouncing the “overinflated salaries'” the
governors receive.
According to Vanguard , Ayuba also “warned that if
the governors wanted organised labour to close
down the country, labour was ready to do so.”
Read his statement:
“We reject it totally. Nigerian workers will never
accept it. We all know that it is a reality that
N18,000 can no longer take the workers home
and cannot sustain any family. Many countries
are reviewing their minimum wage upwards to
meet the current realities. In Nigeria, there is even
greater need to increase the minimum wage
because our currency had been devalued; inflation
keeps rising among others.
“What is the relation of the Nigerian currency to
the Dollar or what is value of the N18,000 to the
Dollar? We are going to reject the move with all
our might. We are not the cause of the problem.
They should think out of the box to find solution
to the problem. When there was excess crude
money, the workers did not benefit and so, we
cannot bear the brunt. If the governors want us
to close down the country, we will do that.
“What about their outrageous salaries, bloated
overhead cost, inflated contracts and others?
NLC is meeting tomorrow (today) on the organ of
the Central Working Committee, CWC. This issue
is going to feature prominently and we are going
to come with a strong statement on it. Obviously
we cannot bear the brunt. They governors should
think how to generate revenue instead of
depending on oil money and allocation from
Abuja.
“The governors should know that the ₦18,000
minimum wage was not just negotiated, it was a
product of a tripartite process involving the
governors, employers and organised labour. It
passed through the National Assembly before
former President Jonathan signed it into law. If
any party wants to breach or renege on such
agreement, they should be prepared for the
consequences.
“We know there are challenges, but the governors
should face reality. The problem is the cost of
governance and too many frivolities. Today, with
crazy bills from electricity providers, increase in
fuel price, school fees, hospital bills, and other
utilities, ₦18,000 cannot take any worker to the
bus stop.
Source: Vanguard
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment