Lawmakers Should Live On Minimum Wage To Understand Workers’ Struggle – Ex-NLC Treasurer
A former Treasurer of the Nigeria Labour Congress and current chairman of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Bamgbose Betty, has said that in a bid for the senate to understand the plights of the labour unions, they should put their salaries on the minimum wage
In an interview on Monday during the ongoing national strike declared by the NLC and Trade Union Congress, Betty expressed her dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the minimum wage negotiations.
“Why will the federal government…they said Round Table, the NLC, the TUC, they have been deliberating on this round table for so long? They feel that they should be putting 200 today, 300 tomorrow, 500 the next day for a minimum wage. It is enough. Enough is enough,” Betty spoke in front of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital laboratory, Lagos State.
She further said that the Senate and other high-ranking officials should have their salaries pegged to the proposed minimum wage, asserting, “For them to know where it pains us, let the senate, whatever, put their salary on this minimum wage too and let’s see what will happen. I mean, let it go round.”
The former NLC Treasurer lamented the struggles faced by workers regarding the economic realities in the country.
“When you get paid within two to three days, the salary is nowhere to be found…the suffering is too much,” Betty said.
However, despite the strike, Betty acknowledged that the essential duties of the medical and health workers were still functioning, stating, “But on here, as my chairman has said, we have our essential duties on the ground, we have that on the ground, but all others to go home please.”
On Friday, organised labour announced that they will be commencing a nationwide indefinite strike due to the refusal of the Federal Government to increase the proposed minimum wage from N60,000.
According to the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, the strike will begin at midnight on Sunday, June 2, 2024.
In a joint statement delivered by Ajaero and his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Festus Osifo, they expressed their serious concerns and disappointment over the Federal Government’s failure to finalise and pass a new National Minimum Wage Act into law.
They also demanded that the government reverse the increase in electricity tariff to N65/kWh.
Recall that both unions had given an ultimatum of May 31, 2024, for negotiations on the new minimum wage.
However, talks between organised labour and the Federal Government broke down on Tuesday after both parties presented their offers.
