Minimum Wage: NLC, TUC, ULC Others Hold Protests, Rally In Lagos, Ogun, Oyo Ekiti
The Organised Labour on Tuesday held protests and peaceful rally in south western states of Nigeria to sensitise Nigerians ahead of nationwide strike slated to hold on November 6, 2018 to compel governments to pay the 30,000 new minimum wage agreed upon by the tripartite committee.
In Lagos the sensitisation which had members of organised labour in teeming numbers commenced with procession from Ojuelegba to Ojota to register their grievances against the action of Federal government against the new minimum wage.
Addressing newsmen, Deputy President of NLC, Comrade Amechi Asugwuni told Nigerians to stock foods in the house ahead of the nationwide strike.
According to him, the struggle is to defend the people of this country and the mourning day is to sensitise Nigerians to stock food in their houses because once we commence the strike, there is no going back except government agree to our terms and conditions. The minimum wage is a legitimate right for Nigerian workers.
In his contribution, Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of United Labour Congress (ULC) reiterated that 30,000 is not negotiable.
“We are on the road to tell government that enough is enough. The November 6 will be the mother of all strikes in Nigeria. Posterity will judge us if we fail to rise up to defend Nigerian workers.
“There is no good healthcare and electricity tariff is far more than 18,000 minimum wage and the tariff continue to increase”, he said.
At Gani Fawehimi park where labour ended the national mourning, they sent a powerful message to both Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige and President Muhammadu Buhari to listen to the plights.
In Ibadan , Oyo State , the workers under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) stormed Ibadan, Oyo State capital, insisting on the payment of N30 000 as the new national minimum wage.
The workers in their hundreds who trekked from the NLC secretariat to the governor’s office, through Queen Elizabeth road to Mokola round about, singing solidarity songs, accused federal government of being insensitive to the plights of the Nigerian workers.
Accompanied by security operatives to avoid the protest being hijacked by suspected hoodlums, they warned that failure by the federal government to implement the 30,000 as new national minimum wage at the end of November 6, would lead to total collapse all activities in the country.
Carrying placards with different inscriptions, they the protest was to sensitized Nigerians on why the workers deserve better wages and appeal to the government to pay the new minimum wage to avert strike.
Some of the placards read: “Workers are not slaves, we deserve better standard of living”, No more Workers’ enslavement”, and “Minimum wage: No retreat no surrender” among others.
Addressing the workers, Oyo State chairman of the NLC, Comrade Waheed Olojede decried the government attitude towards implementing the new national minimum wage saying that the workers cannot go blow N30,000.
According to him, on the N30,000 “We stand as there is no going to be any retreat or surrender.
He said it was unfortunate that the leaders were insensitive to the plight of Nigerian workers, noting that an average workers cannot afford three day square meal.
“While the leaders live in affluent and flamboyant life, the workers are suffering. We are saying no this, we deserve better wages and must be paid.
Oloyede who assured that.no blood would be shed until the struggle for the payment of the N30,000 minimum wage is achieved, disclosed that public organisations were ready to pay the minimum wage.
“We can’t compromise on the new N30 000 new national minimum wage. We can’t go below that and that in the next few years it would be reviewed.
“Why are they cheating us? The new minimum wage is our right. By November 6 if the Federal government failed to implement the new wage, there will be total severe of work by Nigerian workers”, he declared.
Also, the state chairman of TUC, Comrade Emmanuel Ogundiran, warned Nigerians to stay at home during the strike.
While noting that was very essential and key to nation development, he said the Labour Unions were prepared and for the struggle.
“It is compulsory to pay the N30,000 new minimum wage, it is not too much. Why is it that whatever that must come out to the labour has to be by struggle. We are ready for the struggle”, he said.
The NLC national treasurer, Comrade Bosun Daramola who noted that that the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) was an affiliated members warned its leadership against disobeying NLC directive when the strike commence.
In Abeokuta, Ogun State, members of the Nigeria labour union movements in Ogun state also staged a peaceful rally round major streets of Abeokuta, the state capital to sensitise their members over the impending nationwide strike scheduled for next week 6th November, 2018.
The labour union members, which included those from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other affiliate bodies marched through major streets of Abeokuta metropolis to drum home member’s supports for their planned action aimed at forcing governments to yields to their demands on the minimum wage.
Supervised by the state leadership of their unions, the rally which took off from the state secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at Iwe’Rohin House in Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta saw members of the NLC, TUC and other affiliate members moving through Pansheke, Omida market to Ibara roundabout as well as other major streets within the state capital.
The national leadership of the NLC had vowed to call Nigerian workers out to proceed on total strike beginning from 6th November, 2018 should the Federal Government failed to approve payment of N30,000 as minimum wage.
Speaking with journalists after the rally however, the NLC Chairman in Ogun, Comrade Akeem Ambali berated those calling for salary deregulation as against jacking up the minimum wage from N18, 000 where the federal government had pegged it.
Ambali argued that in as much as salaries of the National Assembly members and those of the state governors were not deregulated, it would be an insult to call for the deregulation of salaries of Nigerian workers.
Ogun NLC chairman also described as wicked and inhuman, situations whereby some people earn between N16m and N23m monthly and same people are now leading the campaign against the payment of paltry sum of N30, 000 as minimum wage.
“There is no basis for salary deregulation being clamoured for in some quarters. There is no deregulation of salary for any governor. All the governors in this country take same salary. No deregulation of salary for the National Assembly members. Do you know how much governor take per month?
“If people in this same Nigeria under same market take as much as cumulative total of N23million and N16million per month. For God sake and you are saying that you can’t afford N30, 000.”
In his own address, TUC chairman, Comrade Olubunmi Fajobi wondered why the federal government was still foot dragging on the new minimum wage when the negotiations on it had already been concluded.
Noting that Nigerian workers remained the least paid in the world, Fajobi added that the country also ranked among the poorest in the world.
“Let’s also understand the fact that a negotiation has been concluded and the next thing is implementation.
“We have the government deliberately deceiving the entire Nigerians. That’s why as organised labour we considered it necessary to sensitise every Nigerian to know what is particularly at stake.”
On his own part, President, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives and the National Chairman of the Joint Public Negotiating Council, Abdulrafiu Adeniji, who said he was in the state to monitor the sensitisation rally, also lamented that Nigerian workers had suffered enough.
He noted that there was the need to sensitive Nigerians to stand for their right.
“I have been instructed to come here to monitor the rally to sensitise and mobilise not only the work force but the Nigeria populace about the implication continuous denial of the workforce of the expected minimum wage”.
“So, we are here as a mark of solidarity for suffering working class and to establish the fact that long enough the government of this country has deprived not only the workers but the entire populace their right”.
“If this is so we need to sensitise our members and the entire world to know their right, stand for it and fight for the right of Nigerian workers.
“We must tell the government why the new minimum wage must not only be paid but be expedited upon.”
Also in Ekiti State workers joined their colleagues across the 36 States of the country to stage a sensitization rally to press for the N30, 000 new National Minimum Wage.
They were led in the protest by the National Vice President of the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC), Com. Solomon Adelegan, State Chairman, Com. Ade Adesanmi, his colleague in the Trade Union Congress(TUC), Com Odunayo Adesoye and the Secretary of Joint Negotiating Council, Com. Blessing Oladele.
The workers had gathered at the Mobil Filling Station in Ajilosun area of Ado Ekiti and moved to the Governor’s office , where they were scheduled to meet Governor Kayode Fayemi on the grievances with the governments.
The labour leaders who took turn to address the workers said it was height of insensitivity for the FG to have turned down the N30,000 proposal, when it can afford the jumbo pays being taken by politicians.
Governor Kayode Fayemi who addressed the workers after terminating the protest at his office in Ado Ekiti, the state capital described their agitations as legitimate and worthy of being given considerations by governments.
He assured that his government would do everything to support the demand since it was a product of law and constitution of the land.
The workers had earlier addressed the public at the popular Erekesan market and urged them not to be misinformed about the planned strike of the all labour unions in the country.
Fayemi , who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Biodun Omoleye and the Head of Service, Dr. Gbenga Faseluka, said, “My government as you all know is labour friendly. The agitations for new National Minimum is legitimate and let me tell you, my government will never allow workers to go hungry again by working without getting their pay.
“The present wages you are taking can no longer take you half home, as responsible government, we must listen to your voices. We will take your demands to the Governors’ Forum and we will put up a voice for you there.
“Here in Ekiti, we will not only pay your salaries and pensions as and when due, we will also engage in capacity building to motivate workers.
“We sympathise with you on the backlog of salary arrears. As we are settling down, our government will look into it , because never again shall Ekiti workers go hungry due to non-payment of salaries, bye, bye to such era”, Fayemi stated.
The NLC National Vice President , Adelegan and State Chairman of TUC, Com Adesoye , said the National Minimum Wage ought to have been reviewed since 2015 based on the proposition that the law should be reviewed every five years , in accordance to the law.
According to them, “Go and check the records, Nigerian workers are the least paid in Africa and globally. South Africa, Ghana and other smaller countries are paying better wages.
“In a country where government can’t pay just N30,000 minimum wage, its Senators remain the highest paid in the world, this in insensitive.
“So, if the government refuses to sign into law before November 11, 2018, we will not hesitate to grind every sector of this country”, he said.
