“Never let your interest be undermined but let’s be strong and maintain one voice; we must forge ahead and make progress because a worker deserves his wages. We will maintain our voice of no salary, no work.”
Browsing: National Minimum Wage
According to him, if the N56, 000 wage is implemented, it will help to reduce the suffering of workers. “There is no alternative to the N56, 000 minimum wage which is long overdue for review,” he said, adding that although it was underestimated, Nigerians would enjoy it.
Wabba said, “We wish to state that the situation of the working poor in Nigeria continues to be dire and exacerbating. This is because of the high and increasing cost of living, rising number of dependents given the deepening unemployment situation, low social protection coverage, delayed payment of salaries amongst others.”
“There is no law today that compels government to increase salaries or review wages. It took many years for government and labour to agree on what we have as a minimum wage of N18,000 today. Other countries have a periodic review of wages embedded in their laws, and workers can actually plan and look up to the review.”
“We, therefore, urge the Federal Government to use the occasion of the Democracy Day to announce the composition of the tripartite negotiation committee as this is imperative for the government to review the National Minimum Wage,” he said.
The minister said the committee was set up as part of the effort to come to terms with the agitation for better pay by Nigerian workers. The country currently has N18,000 as national minimum wage, which is seen by the workers as grossly inadequate.
“The May Day is an auspicious occasion for the working people to reflect on their struggles and make their demands. We shall use this opportunity to renew the call for the review of the National Minimum Wage that is overdue for review considering the current economic trends.
“So, the government should ensure that the benchmark for all employers is made as a law so that everybody in the country is carried along irrespective of the number of persons employed. We also hope that the committee will look into the idea being canvassed that minimum wage should not only be for workers in organisation of 50 staff and above.”
Oscarline Onwuemenyi 11 March 2017, Sweetcrude, Abuja – The Federal Government on Friday refuted the accusation by the Nigeria Labour…
“Though, we have been told by the administration that the panel will be constituted, we enjoin the government to urgently sort out whatever is the constraint it is facing. The Federal Government must act on the matter before we are forced to take actions that may be unpleasant.”
