The battle between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and State
\nGovernors has taken a different dimension; with the governors\u2019
\nintention to reduce the national minimum wage of N18,000, the NLC has
\ndirected the state councils and other affiliates to begin mobilization
\nof workers for a total shutdown.<\/p>\n
Last week the Chairman, Nigerian Governors\u2019 Forum and Zamfara state
\nGovernor, Abdulaziz Yari, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said
\nthat the minimum wage was no longer sustainable in view of the current
\neconomic reality, adding that workers either settle for pay cut or
\nmass sack.<\/p>\n
But NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, warned the governors to desist
\nfrom either of the options, saying that the path the governors were
\nheaded could only lead to head-on collision with Nigerian workers and
\nthe entire populace.<\/p>\n
To jettison the minimum wage, Wabara contended, would amount to a
\ndeclaration of war against the nation\u2019s working class.<\/p>\n
He expressed sadness that Governor Yari could further threaten the
\nworkers by restating the governors\u2019 determination to go ahead with the
\nreduction of wage or massive retrenchment, even when \u201cour governors
\ncontinue to engage in practices that are completely against the norms
\nand standards of governance in civilised societies.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cIn case Governor Yari and his colleagues, most of whom are
\nfresh in their positions, might not be aware, the principle behind
\nminimum wage is that it is the minimum salary a worker is envisaged to
\nearn to sustain himself or herself and his or her legal or legitimate
\ndependants, over a daily or monthly period.<\/p>\n
Waba said: \u201cIn our context, a worker\u2019s legitimate dependants include
\nthe worker\u2019s spouse and four children. In simple arithmetic terms,
\nN18, 000 divided by six persons over 30 days amounts to N100 per day
\nper person, or N600 for the six persons per day.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe call on the ruling APC government and the opposition PDP to call
\ntheir governors to order as any attempt to renege on the payment of
\nthe N18, 000 National Minimum Wage or engage in mass sack of workers
\nin the states, will throw our already beleaguered country into
\nindustrial disharmony and chaos either now or as we enter the New Year
\nin 2016.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has called on
\nGovernor Yari to resign from office over his comments on the minimum
\nwage.<\/p>\n
Its National President, Comrade Marwan Mustapha Adamu, who disclosed
\nthis to journalists in a statement in Abuja, said the call became apt
\nconsidering denial by Yari\u2019s colleagues.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are calling on the chairman of Governor Forum (NGF) and Zamfara
\nState Governor, Abdulaziz Yari to urgently vacate his office for
\nunilaterally saying governors can no longer pay minimum wage. Many
\ngovernors including Adams Oshiomhole, Ayo Fayose, Aminu Waziri
\nTambuwal and a host of others have denied the statement.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The battle between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and State Governors has taken a different dimension; with the governors\u2019 intention to reduce the national minimum wage of N18,000, the NLC…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":44647,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44646","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n