Organised labour under the aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress in some states of the federation have urged state governments to begin the immediate implementation of the minimum wage approved by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd).
They spoke in separate statements issued in commemoration of the Workers’ Day on Friday.
The Taraba State chapters of the NLC and TUC on Friday appealed to the state government to implement the new minimum wage without delay to boost the morale of workers in the state.
Chairman of NLC in the state, Peter Gambo, made the appeal in Jalingo.
Gambo who commended Governor Darius Ishaku for being up to date in the payment of workers’ salaries, however, urged the government not to tamper with the salaries of local government workers.
In his remarks, the state TUC Chairman, Victor Olatunde, appealed to the government to resume the disbursement of N100m to the state pension office to address the issue of pension and gratuity owed retired civil servants in the state.
Olatunde said the timely payment of pension and gratuity to retired civil servants would enhance the quality of life of the retired citizens in the state.
He also urged the government to fully implement the pending national minimum wage for workers in the state.
Similarly, the Chairman of NLC in Kogi State, Onu Edoka, said it would not henceforth entertain any justification for salary reduction at any level in the state, while demanding the immediate implementation of the minimum wage.
Edoka said his position was informed by the ongoing negotiation on a probable percentage payment being proposed by the state government.
Some categories of the state civil servants, particularly local government workers, have been subjected to percentage payments for up to 10 years dating back to the tenure of Alhaji Ibrahim Idris.
Edoka also called on the governor to make it a matter of priority to pay the 30 per cent balance of the August to December 2017 salaries and other salary arrears owed workers in the state.
He also called on the state governor to lift the embargo placed on trade unions activities in all the state-owned tertiary institutions.
He, however, praised the state governor for having smooth harmony between the labour and the state government.
The NLC in Anambra State also asked Governor Willie Obiano to fully implement the new minimum wage and its consequential adjustment as agreed with the labour as soon as the COVID-19 is over.
It also asked the governor to resolve all outstanding labour issues in the same vein.
The state Chairman of the NLC, Mr Jerry Nnubia, in a statement said, “Congress also demands that all outstanding labour issues be resolved in the same vein.
“Employers of labour should provide sufficient Personal Protection Equipment, hand sanitisers, functional washrooms, suitable restrooms and other facilities to reduce the risk of health workers.”
In Ogun State, the TUC warned the state government against any intention to deduct or cut workers’ pay in a bid to source funds to cushion the economic crisis occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The union also expressed disappointment over what it called a “feeling of betrayal” by the state government for its alleged failure to live by its promises on workers’ minimum wage.
The acting Chairman of the state TUC, Akeem Lasis, said, “In fact, the government had earlier announced that workers would be paid their March 2020 salaries based on the workings of the minimum wage.
“The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Ogun State council wishes to register its shock, disappointment and indeed feeling of betrayal as the government failed to live by its promises.
“We wish to place on record that the congress was not privy to the decision of the government to boycott the earlier agreement.
“This is the best time they can be made happy and comfortable in retirement. In fact, it is a fact that our contributive pension deductions and government’s counterpart funding are hanging in the balance since God knows when.
“It means that those of us in service are not sure of any comfort anytime we retire. We, therefore, urge the government to stop deductions immediately while we return to the table to fashion a way forward.”
Also speaking, the state Chairman of the NLC, Emmanuel Bankole, said although it was not unmindful of the economic challenges posed by COVID-19 to employers of labour, it would resist any salary cut.
The Kwara State NLC Chairman, Issa Ore, also asked the state government to implement the N30,000 new minimum wage.
“In the face of the hardship which Nigerians are currently going through as a result of the lockdown imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19 and it effects on the economy, we want to appeal to the state government to ensure the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage for workers,” he said.
His counterpart in Benue State, Mr Godwin Anya, said any governor contemplating to cut the salary of workers in these times were enemies of workers.
“I don’t think Governor (Samuel) Ortom will be among those governors talking about slashing of workers’ salaries during this period. He is not known for such acts,” he said.
The Chairman of the NLC in Ebonyi State, Mr Leonard Nkah, appealed to government at all levels to make the welfare of workers their utmost priority to cushion the hardship occasioned by COVID-19 lockdown.
