In their reaction, leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC,
and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, warned that if the governors wanted
workers to shut down the nation because of the issue, workers would gladly do
so, saying “the governors should not think the Nigerian workers do not have the
capacity to retrench them.”
Factional President of NLC, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, while insisting
that Nigerian workers totally reject the governors’ position, warned that if
the governors wanted organised labour to close down the country, labour was
ready to do so. He confirmed that the NLC would be meeting today on the
platform of the Central Working Committee, CWC, and the issue would feature
prominently after which a statement would be released.
Wabba said: “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 N18,000 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, N18,000 cannot take any worker to
the bus stop. We want to know their salaries as approved by the Revenue and
Fiscal Mobilisation Commission, that of their commissioners, advisers and
others, their security votes and others.
Similarly, his counterpart, Mr. Joe Ajaero, dismissed
the governors’ resolution as an empty threat. He said most of them were
ignorant of the process that brought about the N18,000 minimum wage, warning
the governors not to start a battle they could not sustain because Nigerian
workers had the capacity to retrench them.
According to him: “Well, because of the falling oil prices,
sole administrators should be appointed in the 36 states and Abuja and the
office of state governors should be abolished. The sole administrators
should not have one single commissioner or adviser. They should also not
receive any salary or allowance because we are in a belt-tightening period for
us to survive. The governors should know that the process that brought
about the N18,000 minimum wage was more democratic than the process that
brought most of them to power. They do not have the capacity to abolish the
minimum wage. We are even planning to present a new proposal for upward review
of the wage because, not only is it due for review, it is also no longer in
tune with the socio-economic reality of the time.
“Do not forget that the minimum wage is an act that was
passed into law by the National Assembly and signed into law by former
President Goodluck Jonathan in March, 2011. The day the governors say they can
no longer pay the N18,000 minimum wage, that is the day they should vacate
office as governors. They should not make the mistake that workers have no
capacity to retrench them from office.”
On his part, Secretary-General of the Trade Union Congress
of Nigeria, TUC, Mr. Musa Lawal, said labour would never accept that and it
would be rejected and resisted with all powers available.
According to him, the governors cannot say they can no
longer pay the minimum wage. “If they do, we are going to reject and
resist it with whatever it takes. Though we will meet to react appropriately,
but we are definitely not accepting it. We are presenting a proposal for upward
review of the wage because it is no longer meeting the realities on ground.
We were planning our meeting for next month, I am sure because of this
development, we will bring it forward.”
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