ABUJA, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Labour leaders on Friday declared that they would demand a new minimum wage from the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, as soon as he is sworn in later this month.
Addressing workers at the Eagle Square in Abuja during this year’s May Day celebration, the President of Federal Government-recognised faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba and his counterpart in TUC, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, made huge demands on the government, stating labour’s position on crucial national issues.
Comrade Wabba stated that NLC and TUC would formally table a request for a new national minimum wage soon after the swearing-in of the new government, adding that the current N18,000 minimum wage is no longer acceptable due to the prevailing economic crisis.
He said: “The first direct symptom of the prevailing economic crunch; the continuous devaluation of the naira, has dealt devastating blows on the purchasing power of the Nigerian worker. This is unacceptable! The last national minimum wage of N18,000 which was negotiated in 2010, is clearly no longer of any meaningful economic value to workers as the inflationary trends engendered by the continuing devaluation of the naira has made the minimum wage now grossly inadequate.
“The above situation plus the fact that the five yearly circle provided for periodic review of the national minimum wage is almost at hand, we wish to use this May Day to give notice that we shall formally table a request for a new national minimum wage for the consideration of the tripartite social partners, as soon as the incoming government is sworn in.
“This has become pertinent given current economic realities. We also wish to draw the attention of state governments and other employers of labour yet to discharge their obligations under the current national minimum wage regime to immediately ensure that all minimum wage issues are addressed.
“We wish to use this opportunity to remind those agencies of government and other private sector employers not complying with the provisions of the 2011 National Minimum Wage Act that they are breaking the law of the land. A government or corporate entity that refuses to obey the law of the land is surely expressing its preference for anarchy.”
Meanwhile, Comrade Wabba said both President Goodluck Jonathan and Buhari deserved to be commended for stabilising the polity in the fallout of the recent general election.
He said now that the elections were over; and new breed of politicians were billed to come into the system, they must sit up to their responsibility of providing good governance at all levels,” he said.
He said: “In about four weeks from now, Nigerians will for the first time in the history of the nation witness a smooth transition of power from an incumbent president of a political party to another president elected on the platform of an opposition platform.
“While Nigerians remain the greatest heroes in the peaceful and civil manner in which they participated in the electoral process by ensuring that their votes counted, we commend both Mr. President and Mr. President-Elect because the manner in which they conducted themselves has greatly contributed in stabilising the polity in the context of the apprehension during the electioneering period. Ultimately, it was Nigeria that won the 2015 general election.
“As strong advocates of democratic culture and good governance, we are confident that the decisive role of the people in the emergence of the incoming political leadership of the country has restored some level of hope that the future of our country is no longer as bleak as it was a couple of years back.
“Beginning from May 29, 2015, all elected political officers must sit up to their responsibilities of providing good governance as the lessons of March 28, 2015 have sufficiently educated all Nigerians that the era of impunity is over and that those with popular mandates to lead must exercise those mandates for the good of all or they will be voted out of office.”
Comrade Wabba pointed out that Nigerians and the world would expect a lot from General Buhari when he takes over and noted that the achievements of General Buhari’s government will depend on the manner in which his administration immediately hits the ground running, post inauguration; to deliver the change it promised Nigerians.
The TUC president, Kaigama warned the in-coming administration to walk the talk in tackling corruption, adding that the first step to achieving the desired result would be to make the judiciary truly independent.
According to Kaigama, the anti-graft agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) should be strengthened so as to make them alive to their mandate.
He said: “The anti-corruption war needs to be fought with greater vigour and commitment and the best way to tackle the menace is to make the independence of the judiciary a permanent reality.
“To effect this, the judiciary should be placed on the first line charge for budgetary allocations, just like the executive and the legislature.
“Just as appointment and promotion of judicial officers by the executive is on recommendation of the National Judicial Council or the legislature, so should the executive have no power to sack any judicial officer without the recommendation or approval of the council?”
Credit: Nigerian Tribune
