The battle between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and State
Governors has taken a different dimension; with the governors’
intention to reduce the national minimum wage of N18,000, the NLC has
directed the state councils and other affiliates to begin mobilization
of workers for a total shutdown.
Last week the Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Zamfara state
Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said
that the minimum wage was no longer sustainable in view of the current
economic reality, adding that workers either settle for pay cut or
mass sack.
But NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, warned the governors to desist
from either of the options, saying that the path the governors were
headed could only lead to head-on collision with Nigerian workers and
the entire populace.
To jettison the minimum wage, Wabara contended, would amount to a
declaration of war against the nation’s working class.
He expressed sadness that Governor Yari could further threaten the
workers by restating the governors’ determination to go ahead with the
reduction of wage or massive retrenchment, even when “our governors
continue to engage in practices that are completely against the norms
and standards of governance in civilised societies.”
He said: “In case Governor Yari and his colleagues, most of whom are
fresh in their positions, might not be aware, the principle behind
minimum wage is that it is the minimum salary a worker is envisaged to
earn to sustain himself or herself and his or her legal or legitimate
dependants, over a daily or monthly period.
Waba said: “In our context, a worker’s legitimate dependants include
the worker’s spouse and four children. In simple arithmetic terms,
N18, 000 divided by six persons over 30 days amounts to N100 per day
per person, or N600 for the six persons per day.
“We call on the ruling APC government and the opposition PDP to call
their governors to order as any attempt to renege on the payment of
the N18, 000 National Minimum Wage or engage in mass sack of workers
in the states, will throw our already beleaguered country into
industrial disharmony and chaos either now or as we enter the New Year
in 2016.”
Meanwhile, the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has called on
Governor Yari to resign from office over his comments on the minimum
wage.
Its National President, Comrade Marwan Mustapha Adamu, who disclosed
this to journalists in a statement in Abuja, said the call became apt
considering denial by Yari’s colleagues.
“We are calling on the chairman of Governor Forum (NGF) and Zamfara
State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari to urgently vacate his office for
unilaterally saying governors can no longer pay minimum wage. Many
governors including Adams Oshiomhole, Ayo Fayose, Aminu Waziri
Tambuwal and a host of others have denied the statement.”