Ikechukwu Ifeanyi
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the federal government to as a matter of urgency, commence the implementation of the new minimum wage before worker’s day celebration slated for May 1st.
Acting NLC President, Mr Najeem Yasin, while reacting to the approval of the new minimum wage by the National assembly, commended the senate for passing the minimum wage bill to law. He however advised the executive to ensure the speedy assent and implementation of the minimum wage bill.
It would be recalled that the Nigerian Governors forum had proposed N24,000 while the Federal government forwarded N27,000 to the National assembly.
“We commend the Senate for passing the minimum wage bill of N30,000 but the battle for the minimum wage bill is not yet over; workers will not rest until it is signed and implemented.
“We want the federal government to ensure its implementation before the May Day celebration, which is the Workers Day celebration. Government should greet workers with the commencement of the implementation,” the labour leader said.
Yasin, who is also the National President of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), called on the federal government to ensure effective sanctions for employers who refused to implement the N30,000 National Minimum Wage.
But now, it has been passed. Nigerian workers are now looking forward to the signing of the bill into law,” Yasin said.
Mr Amechi Asugwuni, NLC Deputy President, also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to follow the path of honour and immediately sign into law the new pay rise document once he received it.
He, however, disagreed on call by the Senate for a review of the Revenue Sharing formulae which gave federal government 56 percent, states 24 and local government 20 percent.
He argued that the minimum wage bill was an independent bill which should not be subjected to adjustments in sharing formulae by the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission.
According to him, such calls could further slow down the already overdue implementation of the new minimum wage.
Also, Mr Joe Ajaero, President, United Labour Congress (ULC), commended the Senate for the passage of the N30,000 minimum wage.
Ajaero called on the federal government to ensure that the process of the national minimum wage implementation should not be beyond March and April.
“Government should ensure that this year May Day be a day to celebrate the implementation of the national minimum wage. I want to say that by May 1, all employers of Labour should have implemented it”. He said
I enjoy the report