The Nigeria Labour Congress has commended Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State for standing on the side of workers by insisting that the N18,000 minimum wage is sacrosanct and threatened to mobilize against any state government that tinkers with the minimum wage of workers.
Edo State branch of the NLC in a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting in Benin City yesterday, described as satanic and retrogressive, the resolve by some State Governors to review downwards, the current minimum wage of Civil Servants in the country.
Signed by Emmanuel Ademokun, Chairman and Comrade B.S Kadiri, Acting Secretary, the Communique noted that that some of the governors “who rose to power on the shoulders of the working people and paraded themselves as progressives could contemplate reduction of workers’ salary as a way out of the economic downturn.”
The Union said, “The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Edo State Chapter at its meeting held on the 27th of November, 2015 examined the state of the nation with particular reference to the recent statement of the Chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum.
“We noted that apart from very few governors as epitomized by the Comrade Governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole who clearly disowned the forum on the issue , other governors simply did not consider that governance is about people and their wellbeing”.
Ademokun continued, “We strongly believe that this statement was designed to undermine the sensitivity of the Nigeria people and we therefore call on all well-meaning Nigerians to join us to condemn the statement and the intent as retrogressive and satanic.
“That the Governors who have resolved to reduce the workers salary are simply enemies of the country and their action is a calculated attempt to sabotage the change agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.”
The Labour called “on the Governors to have a rethink as history is about to record them in the darkest letter as they must note that the workers salary is the basis of our local economy were everybody is a beneficiary; market women, artisan and all other trades and therefore call on the Governors to retract their steps and abandon their satanic resolution for a progressive and more honorable idea.
“We wish to commend all the Governors who have backed out of this retrogressive idea that they are truly progressives and outstanding patriot who stood to be counted. We wish to advice that all the state governors including local governments to borrow a leaf from Mr. President who has put in place, measures to reduce the cost of governance drastically.
“The Congress wish to put on record that any attempt by anybody in whatever name, we shall mobilise to resist this call for the downward review of the minimum wage.
“It is also noted that the current minimum wage is overdue for upward review. Therefore, the Federal Government should be prepared to negotiate a new minimum wage That will improve the living standard of the Nigeria workers.”
