MINIMUM WAGE: We will continue to protect until our demands are met...Union leaders

Minimum Wage: We will continue to protest until our demands are met ― Union leaders

tribuneonlineng.com

Jan 8, 2019 5:00 PM

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart in Anambra State, have said they will continue to hit the streets to protest issues of workers welfare, particularly the N30,000 new minimum wage until their demands are met.

Speaking during the protest in Awka, the Anambra State capital, National Industrial Relation Officer of the union in-charge of National Assembly, Abuja, Hon. Uche Ekwe who represented the National President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said the problem with Nigeria was not the lack of resources but bad governance.

According to Ekwe, the organised labour will continue to protest until the workers’ demands are met.

He said the delayed tactics played by the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and the 36 state governors are “man-made and not an act of God because God has so richly blessed this country called Nigeria. In all facets of human life, be it natural or human, we are resourcefully blessed.

“Some of the conditions made during the protest include; voting out any political party who is against the implementation of the N30,000 new minimum wage, the federal and state governments should stop using the slogan of ‘no work, no pay’ to intimidate its members coupled with their poor working conditions, workers should be steadfast in their request to ensure that their demands are met, among others.”

He called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to urgently do the needful by transmitting the bill to the National Assembly for quick passage.

The Secretary to the State Government of Anambra (SSG), Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu who received the protest letter on behalf of the State Governor, Willie Obiano, said the state government will surely do the needful so that the bill is implemented by the Federal Government.

Chukwulobelu who also described the governor as the worker-friendly added that Obiano has remained the only governor in Nigeria who pays workers salaries, pensions and their gratuities as and when due.

In their separate speeches, the State NLC chairman, Comrade Jerry Nnubia; his TUC counterpart, Comrade Ifeanyi Ikechukwu; ASUU Chairman Unizik branch, Engr. Steve Ofuaro and the NUT Chairman, Comrade Ofudile Okechukwu urged their members to work together and not to allow the few to swallow what belongs to all of us. We will continue to challenge and be on the streets.

They called on the government at all levels to do everything possible to ensure Nigeria workers are given their legitimate rights and sense of belonging.

The protest which kicked-off from the popular Aroma junction ended at the State Government House while the protesters carried placards with the inscription, “Pay Us N30,000 Now or Never” among others.