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Tag: Ayuba Wabba

  • ‘NLC to occupy Ogun over Amosun’s hostile policies to workers’

    The National leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Com. Ayuba Wabba,  has declared that he would lead Nigerian workers to occupy Ogun State on Friday, this week, over alleged hostile policies of Governor Ibikunle Amosun towards the state work force.

    The siege christened “Operation Occupy Ogun State,”  Wabba added, is driven by the need to use the planned protest to prevail on Amosun to resolve all pending labour issues between Organised Labour in the state and the Ogun State Government.

    The NLC leadership in a letter addressed to  Governor Ibikunle Amosun, dated 20th February, titled “Re: Notice of Protest Against Anti-Worker Actions of the Ogun State Government Scheduled For 1st March, 2019,” said they would storm the state to protest the anti-worker decisions  and infractions on the rights of workers by the state government.

    He lamented that the Union had at different times drew the attention of the state  government to its  infractions with calls on Amosun- led administration to  respect the collective bargaining agreement entered with workers as regards the last tranche of the Paris Club Fund.

    Wabba noted that by agreement, Paris Club Fund, was meant  to settle gratuity owed workers and unremitted statutory deductions due to workers and trade unions.

    Read Also: Amosun wins Ogun Central

    According to the Union leader, some of the issues they want Amosun to address include reinstating  the state NLC chairman,  Comrade Akeem Ambali and other labour leaders that were sacked by him.

    Others are the liquidation of about 104 months arrears of withheld statutory deductions owed workers and unions in the state;  payment of gratuity owed retirees and settlement of salary arrears owed workers of the Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu -Ijebu.

    Wabba’s letter reads : “Your Excellency, we wish to remind you that the actions of the Ogun State Government under your leadership runs contrary to and undermine Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution which guarantees and protects freedom of association which includes the freedom for trade unions to exist and function freely in any part of the country.

    “Furthermore, as you know, the rights enjoyed by trade unions to respect for collective bargaining agreements and non-interference in their activities is further guaranteed by Conventions 87 and 98 of the International Labour Organisation and Freedom of Association. These conventions were fully subscribed to by Nigeria upon the attainment of independence.

    “Given the intransigence of the Ogun State government to respond to earlier entreaties  by the NLC, Organized Labour in Nigeria has no other option left than to keep Ogun State on an industrial lock down until our demands are met.”

     

  • Election postponement: NLC demand public holiday

    … warn Workers against voter apathy

     

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked government to declare a two or three-day public holiday to enable workers travel to perform their civic responsibility in the face of imminent voter apathy as a result of the shift in the date of the general elections.

    The Congress also asked Nigerians especially workers not to be disillusioned with the postponement of the elections, but the go all out and cast their vote, saying the postponement of the election was a better evil than disenfranchising several millions of Nigerians.

    President of the Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said in a statement that from evidence available, many people would have been able to cast their vote as a result of logistics problems if the election had been allowed to go ahead.

    Wabba said: “We at the Nigerian Labour Congress join other Nigerians in expressing our shock at the last minute postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 16, 2019.

    “We share in the pains of those who in an uncommon show of patriotism, had to travel long distances to perform their civic duty. We similarly understand the outrage of those who had incurred huge and unquantifiable logistic costs. No explanation will be good enough given INEC’s repeated assurances and the zeal of Nigerians to cast their vote.

    “However, given the fact that had the election taken place, a huge number of Nigerians would have been disenfranchised on account of gross and wide-spread logistic deficit, the postponement, as painful as it is, is a lesser evil of the two.

    “In light of this, we enjoin all Nigerians to quickly put behind them this ugly incident and brace up for the rescheduled election next weekend. In spite of the huge costs to them, we call on all Nigerians to self-mobilise on the same scale that they did the previous weekend.

    “Let them not be disillusioned or react to this postponement in a manner that will create voter-apathy. This will certainly be counterproductive and will in the long run work against the interests of the electorate.

    “We call on institutions to be flexible with their staff to enable them travel in good time to perform this important civic duty even if it means government declaring a day or two public holiday to achieve this.

    “As for INEC, we do hope they have learnt their lesson. On no account ever again, should they allow this to happen. All effort and expertise must be deployed by INEC to guarantee free, fair and credible elections. We appeal to all Nigerians to put this incident behind them and go out en mass to vote next weekend.”

  • Wabba returns as NLC President

    President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba was on Wednesday evening reelected for a second term of four years with a pledge to double his efforts at protecting the interest and rights of the Nigerian workers.

    In his acceptance speech after he was returned unopposed at the end of the 12th Delegates Conference of NLC in Abuja Wabba said the leadership of labour will double its effort to ensure that the rights and interests of workers are protected.

    The newly elected officers will be in charge of the workers union until 2023.

    Wabba said “The board will respect the will of members and consolidate on what we are doing. We will continue to conform to the tradition of the union and speak the truth to those in power. The daily challenges of workers at work place will be confronted.

    “We have been able to work assiduously in the past four years and we will move forward to build workers poser. I assure our members of our commitment and dedication to the resolutions of the conference” he said.

    He called on the political class to imitate the rancour-free election of the NLC, adding that it was important to address the global in balance where more people live below poverty line despite the growing global wealth.

    Read Also: Wabba elected ITUC president

    Among those returned are first deputy president, Amaechi Asuguni; second deputy president, Muhammed Idris; and third deputy president, Najim Yasim.

    Others are National Treasurer, Ibrahim Khaleel First Vice president, Abdulrafiu Adeniji; Second Vice president, Peters Adeyemi; Third Vice president, Lawrence Amaechi; Fourth Vice president, Oyelekan Lateef, Fifth Vice president, Mercy Okezie and National Trustee, Adewale Adeyanju.

    Also elected are financial secretary, Mustapha Adamu; first internal auditor, Simon Ankavar; second internal auditor, Benjamin Anthony; third internal auditor, Olatunji Babatunde; first ex-officio member, Funmilayo Issa; and second ex-officio member, Comfort Okoh.

  • NLC vows to resist sale of NNPC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday that it will resist any attempt to sell the nation’s refineries or privatize the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    It asked the government to immediately invoke the relevant sections of the law and revoke the Privatisation of the power sector.

    The Congress also said it will mobilize Nigerian workers to demand the composition of governing board for the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund and other agencies of government whose boards are yet to be inaugurated and are being run by the Ministers as sole administrators.

    President of Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba who spoke at the 12th delegates conference of the NLC in Abuja said evidence abound across the country that Privatization has not done the nation any good as majority of government owned enterprises privatized are now comatose.

    Wabba said what has happened in the past the enterprises are under prices and sold to friends and associates who strip them of the assets, leaving them comatose and unproductive.

    He emphasized that “since the privatization of electricity distribution, Nigerians are yet to see the fulfilment of promises of efficient service delivery. Instead, the electricity situation has gone worse with chronic failures by DISCOs to supply prepaid meters, exploitation of Nigerians through estimated billings and reluctance to attend to basic complaints.

    “Even with N39 billion bailout funds from government, the supposed private entrepreneurs have failed to turn anything around except maybe their pockets, unfortunately, at the expense of Nigerians. This must stop. We call on government to reverse the power sector privatisation because it has failed.

    “Privatization of public utilities has not generally proven to be the correct thing to do in most countries even developed ones. According to a study released by Public Services International.

    Read Also: NLC insists on N30, 000 minimum wage

    “Why Public Private Partnerships don’t work; the many advantages of public alternative authored by David Hall privatizing public utilities has been a wreck in most countries. Example form Spain, France, India, South Korea, UK, Australia among others show how public/state guarantees and loans to private sector for the utilities sector have resulted in failures on delivery of services as well as repayment in most cases”.

    On the promise by one of the Presidential candidates to privatize the NNPC, Wabba said the Congress will not accept any attempt to sell National assets under any guise and will do everything possible and within legal means to stop such an attempt.

    He said that “the crisis of industrialization and manufacturing in Nigeria is best exemplified by the chaos in our downstream petroleum industry where we have been unable to manage our vast natural carbon resources for national development and the prosperity of our people. Our four national refineries are almost under lock and key as we depend on the importation of refined petroleum products for our energy needs.”

    He condemned the non-inauguration of the boards of some government agencies especially those within the Labour circle, saying such action had made the process of collective bargaining difficult, adding that the Congress has decided to take up the issue and would soon engage the relevant authorities over the issue.

    He said “as we gather in this Conference, almost four years down the line the following critical labour market institution boards are yet to be inaugurated. They are the NSITF, Michael Imoudu Labour Institute and PENCOM. This is not only a violation of the Act establishing these bodies but a denial of the critical role of social partners in the management of these boards.

    “Also, the National Labour Advisory Council has not been constituted thereby denying any avenue for tripartite consultation. No reason is good enough for this unhealthy development.”

    Speaking on the 2019 elections, Wabba said “As we approach the 2019 general election, we call on the election management body – Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) – and in deed all stakeholders to ensure that we have a peaceful, free, fair and credible elections in February and March, 2019.

    “Congress will continue to hold both the players and the referee in this very important election to account on their words and conduct. Nigerians must rise above partisan interests and become the winners of this election – not political parties and their candidates.

    “The truth is that we do not have any other country other than Nigeria to call our own and we must therefore stop the politicians from using the elections as a pretext to throw the country into crisis.

    “In defending and promoting the cause of Nigerian workers, our focus is to build workers’ power through organizing. We have worked tirelessly to promote causes that can enhance the quality of life and improve the income cum other working conditions of workers. We have paid close attention to workers’ education through our increasingly improved education programmes especially the Rain and Harmattan Schools.”

    On the economy, Wabba said “Our national economy given its vast potentials, amidst diverse challenges, showed some promises in recent times. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 1.81% (year-on-year) in real terms in the third quarter of 2018.

    “This is slightly better than the growth of 1.17% achieved in the third quarter of 2017. The recent GDP growth and increase in internally generated revenue are signs of the steady recovery of our economy from recession.

    “Despite these results, our economy remains largely import driven and dependent. The growth in the size of our economy – the biggest in Africa – is still non-inclusive as the gap between the rich and poor continues to widen. Though described as mixed, our economy is essentially rent seeking and still suffers from systemic distortions.

    “The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report for the third quota of 2018 indicates that the general number of persons unemployed in the country has increased by 3.3 million. The report further indicates that the combined rate of unemployment and under-employment rose from 40.0% in the 2017 third quarter to 43.3% in the third quarter of 2018.”

    He said Nigerians and the government should be worried that the increased pool of graduates, skilled and unskilled youth in the unemployment market especially rural unemployment is a time bomb, adding that attempt to sack workers under any guise as it happened in Kaduna State will complicate the situation.”

    He stressed that the over dependence of our economy on crude oil revenue and the mismanagement of our vast oil wealth through corruption perpetrated by successive governments continue to expose the nation to severe shocks from price fluctuation in the international crude oil market, saying “this was how we landed in the last recession.

    “While we commend the efforts of the current government on economic diversification particularly through agriculture, we are not unmindful of serious structural issues that undermine the progress being made, deeply limit inclusive growth and impact negatively on sustainable development. We will therefore continue to call on government to pay serious attention to these issues.

    Wabba informed the delegates that efforts were being made to reposition the Labour Party and make it a truly Democratic party that all workers will be proud of.

    He said “Your mandate to us to recover and reposition the Labour Party has been met with significant commitment and efforts. We have been able to secure a High Court order that has recognized the NLC as the custodian of the Labour Party. This success has made the task of recovering and repositioning the Labour party a lot easier.

    “Consequent upon the reconciliatory moves by this leadership and other stakeholders, we have agreed to hold an all-inclusive national convention of the Labour Party in order to elect genuine leaders that will translate into reality our shared aspirations to reposition the Labour Party as the numero uno political party in Nigeria.

    “We will intensify current initiatives to settle all the differences within the rank and file of the Labour Party and reconcile the warring factions. We will keep our focus on ensuring that the proposed all-inclusive National Convention of the Labour Party takes place sooner than later.”

  • Labour picket Zimbabwean Embassy in Abuja

    …demand release of detained workers

     

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Friday picketed the Zimbabwean Embassy in Abuja, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of workers and labour leaders arrested while protesting the increase in the prices of fuel in that country.

    President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba who led the workers said if the Zimbabwean government refuse to release the Union leaders, workers across the world will be mobilised to shut down the Zimbabwean embassies across the world.

    Wabba who is also the president of the International Trade Union (ITUC ) asked the United Nations to invoke relevant international conventions to protect the right of workers in Zimbabwe.

    He said ITUC and the Nigeria Labour Congress will petition the International Court of Justice to protest the violation of human rights in that country and the violence that follow the peaceful protest by the workers.

    Wabba also asks the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the African Union to invoke relevant labour conventions in dealing with the issue in Zimbabwe, adding that it was an irony that the same government which the labour union fought for is the one hunting down labour leaders.

    He said organised labour in Nigeria will not hesitate to seal up the embassy in Abuja if the Zimbabwean government failed to adhere to their calls and release the detained labour leaders in that country.

    Wabba called on the Zimbabwean Government to release detained leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and 39 others arrested for participating in protest march over fuel price increase.

    Wabba said that the NLC has followed with a sense of outrage the ugly incidents that have trailed the mass protests in Zimbabwe, adding that that the protest was occasioned by the sudden increase in pump prices of petroleum products by the government of Zimbabwe.

    He said: “the protest is against what many Zimbabweans perceive as insensitive policy choices by the government of Zimbabwe. The Nigerian working class family is sad that what should have passed as a civil action in democratic climes was met with disproportionate use of force by the Zimbabwean military and security forces.

    “The brazen show of force culminated into widespread suppression and violation of the fundamental human rights of ordinary Zimbabweans, who were exposed to an orgy of violence, bloodshed and acts of state cruelty.

    “The NLC is particularly concerned about allegations of home raids, killings, rapes, robbery and physical assaults against workers, women, children and civilians generally, during the so-called crackdown of protests by the Zimbabwean security forces.’’

    Read Also: Labour banks on Rewane Committee

    He reminded the Zimbabwean Government that the action of the security forces was in violation of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 87 on the Right to Unionise and Organise, saying ” the Nigeria Labour Congress reiterates its firm support for democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights cum dignity everywhere and at all times.

    “We, therefore, extend our strong solidarity to the workers and people of Zimbabwe as they express their democratic rights to peaceful assembly and protest. We stand with you today, being Feb. 1, 2019 and always as we lead Nigerian workers and all lovers of democracy, freedom and civil liberties on a march to the Zimbabwean High Commission, Abuja.

    “This is a protest against the descent of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to a reign of cold-blooded dictatorship, brutality and tyranny, adding that “what was happening right now in Zimbabwe was out of tune with democratic tenets and certainly not in tandem with Mnangagwa’s promise of a new Zimbabwe.“

  • Minimum wage: ‘N30,000 translate to N50 per meal for workers’

    Organised Labour in the country on Monday painted a gloomy picture of Nigerian workers and the need for a new National minimum wage, saying the N30,000 recommended by the tripartite committee only translate to meal of N50 for a family of Six and N1000 per day for workers.

    President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba who spoke on behalf of Organised Labour Act the public hearing on a bill for a New National minimum wage said government alone, being one of the social partners in the tripartite cannot single handedly after the figures agreed to by the tripartite and submitted to government.

    Wabba said when the minimum wage was increased to N18,000 in 2011, it was equivalent to 150 dollars, adding that the N30,000 recommended by the tripartite committee is still less than 100 dollars and appealed to the House of Representatives to increase the figure from the N27,000 contained in the bill to N30,000 as recommended by the tripartite committee.

    Wabba said “I remember that in 2017 during the May say pandemonium, the national Assembly made a commitment that when the minimum wage hill is submitted, it will receive accelerated hearing. This promise has been kept.

    “On this issue of minimum wage, by our data base, 11 million workers will benefit and we know that the law provide for a wife, a husband and four children. If you multiple that by 11, there is no economy that will not be boosted. This is why it is very central.

    “The ILO recognizes that minimum wage is one of the most used instruments for wealth distribution in the labour market. Intact, minimum wage is provided for by law in 90 percent of countries of the world.

    “There has been some misconception about what minimum wage stand for. It is the barest minimum that is allowed to be paid to a worker in both public and private sector. When people say we are not supposed to have a minimum wage,  that is not true.

    “The United States of America is a federal system. It has a minimum wage of 10 dollars per hour and after that, every state can then pay higher. Recently, Microsoft increased its minimum wage to 15 dollars per hour. The principle is that we must protect the most vulnerable worker from exploitation.

    “So, it is not about the state, but about the protection of the individual. If you say remove it from the exclusive list and give it to the states, who will fix for the private sector. Employer cannot and should determined single handedly the salary of a worker. This is the principle and if you understand the principle, it will be easier to understand the challenges and work towards addressing them.

    “The minimum wage was due in 2016 because through the collective bargaining profess of 2011, we all agreed among all the social partners that a five year circle will be used to review the minimum wage. Some important economic challenges arose within the period and fuel price increased by about 85 percent and electricity tarrif also increased.

    “By the salary has remained static. From our records, minimum wage has never led to increase in inflation. Intact when minimum wage is increase, inflation will drop. There are other scenario that has increase inflation rate in the country and one of them is spending during election.

    Read Also: New minimum wage: Senate may capture domestic workers

    “This is one factor that we must consider because there will be excess liquidity which will trigger inflation. By the data presented by the National Bureau of Statistics, there is no where minimum wage has triggered inflation.

    “When we signed the N18000 minimum wage, it was equivalent to 150 dollars. Today, it is less than 50 dollars. So, the reality is that it is biting hard on the workers and most of them can’t feed their families and cant even go to work and be productive. This was why we insist on a new minimum wage.

    “The issue of tripartite negotiations and social dialogues is an instrument of the ILO proscribing collective bargaining among social partners. It also also says that all partners should come to the negotiating table in equal footing. There are also procedures in arriving at the minimum wage. In collective bargaining agreement is like a consent judgment where partners sit on a table and agree and what has been agreed is transmitted to government who will make it into a law.

    “This document which we all signed agreeing in N30000 was by all the social partners. We looked at all the issues and through the process of negotiation and looking at the economy and ability to pay, labour dropped its demand to N30,000.

    “We did not recommend N30,000 but because we want to carry everybody along, and make sure that we considerate, Labour became very responsible and agreed on N30,000 and this document was signed and presented to Mr. President.

    “It was agreed to as equal partners and as contained in ILO convention 131, you cannot alter the figures without consulting the social partners involved in the process. I remembered that we considered all issues including how to make sure resources are available so that the wages can be paid because we have been on this part for 38 years. At every stage of negotiating the minimum wage, the same argument has come up.

    “I think we should all sympathies with Nigerian workers. N30,000 translate to N1000 per day and N50 per mill for every member of the family. If you have a family of six, a wife husband and four children, it translate to N50 per mill.

    When we heard about the challenges in the state, we asked our state councils to go and engage with their state governors.

    “We discussed with 30 state governors and they made commitment that they will pay N30,000. The law recognizes individual states and we have attached memos we received from states is attached. We accepted the N30,000 so that there will be peace. That was how we arrived at the figures. In want to plead that the N30,000 we have agreed on with all the social partners be approved.

    “On the bill, we want the figure increased from N27,000 to N30,000. If that is done, it will not be the first. When we got the first minimum wage, this House increased the figure from N100 to N125 which was equal to N200 dollars.

    “We want the four circles as contained in the bill and we want it included that if there is a major economic development that affects workers salaries negatively or whichever comes first. Workers create wealth and should partake in the wealth they create. The work force of any country is an asset to that country.”

  • NLC insists on N30, 000 minimum wage

    The Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ) has maintained it will not accept any minimum wage below N30, 000 in line with recommendation of the tripartite committee.

    It placed workers nationwide on red alert for a total industrial action.

    NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, who briefed newsmen after an emergency meeting of the Central Working Committee of the Congress on Friday, said the ILO Conventions guiding negotiations on minimum wage does not allow one party to change the figures agreed upon after negotiations.

    He stated the process of changing the figure agreed upon after negotiations must follow the same process of negotiations in accordance with international best practices and in accordance with ILO Convention.

    He insisted even the N30, 000 agreed to by the tripartite committee was a compromise position for which labour should be commended as it is still less than $100 when compared the current exchange rate.

    Wabba said: “This is the resolution that has just been adopted by a meeting of the Central Working Committee of the Nigeria Labour Congress.

    “The meeting deliberated on a one item agenda which is the issue of the transmission of the national minimum wage bill to the National Assembly.

    Read Also: NLC rejects N27, 000 minimum wage

    “The meeting reviewed the whole situation including that fact that what was agreed at the tripartite negotiation meeting of the review of the minimum wage was N30, 000.

    “It is actually out of place and out of procedure for that figure to be reduced to N27, 000.

    “The reasons are the tripartite, going by the ILO Convention, having agreed in a figure. It cannot be changed by any of the parties except through the same process because government as an employer cannot unilaterally change the figure that has been agreed upon at the tripartite.

    “This is about procedure and about law and so, we frown against that and has rejected the issue of reducing the figure to N27, 000.

    “We still maintain that what was the outcome of the minimum wage tripartite negotiation committee is N30, 000 and on that we stand.”

    He added: “We have agreed to mobilise and engage on the issue, particularly at the level of the National Assembly and that the outcome of the negotiations be respected. We call on members of the National Assembly to do the needful.

    “We have also put all our members on alert and if that is not done, we will mobilise to take appropriate action that is desirable to actually protect and ensure the sacrosancy of the minimum wage Tripartite process.

    “That has been the procedure from time past and inn tandem with the ILO provisions on minimum wage setting mechanism.

    “We have also agreed that in Monday, we will mobilise and attend the public hearing by the House of Representatives to make sure the right thing is done.

    “We call on all of them, being representatives of the people to respect the outcome of the tripartite negotiation process and importantly is the fact that when you look at N30, 000 in the context of today’s economy is a compromise position that ought to be commended.”

  • Workers cannot feed their families, Wabba cries out

    President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Ayuba Wabba on Tuesday lamented that Nigerian workers can no longer afford a decent meal or take care of the need of their families as a result of poor purchasing power.

    Wabba who spoke while addressing workers on the first day of the nationwide sensitization and mobilization rallies in Abuja said government must take the welfare and well-being of workers seriously and treat it as top priority as they are the ones that create the wealth of the nation.

    Wabba frown at those referring to workers as tiny minority, saying if there is a group that is a tiny minority, it is the political leaders that are receiving homongous salaries

    He said: “Workers welfare and wellbeing must be paramount. That is why we say this rally must take place across the length and breadth of the country. Today in every government house in Nigeria, protest is being transmitted to all our political leaders, the governors at the state level and here, we are in the office of the FCT Minister, who is also like the governor

    “We want to say that workers are very central to economic development. They are very central to the prosperity of any country and therefore we can not be described as the tiny minority.

    “Workers are very productive. We built the Nigerian economy, we fight for democracy,  rule of law and good governance and there is no way we can be described as tiny minority, as we services the entire country.

    While insisting that government must approve the N30,000 new national minimum wage, Wabba said that workers are instrumental to the economic development of the country.

    Wabba went further to argue that workers cannot be regarded as a liability but an asset.

    Read Also: SGF to Wabba: Buhari committed to workers’ welfare

    “Nigerian workers are an asset and must be celebrated. Anywhere around the world where there is progress, workers are celebrated. Workers must be able to take care of their families, they must be able to feed well, they must be able to pay children’s school fees, but today most workers are unable feed three meals per day because the minimum wage of N18,000 is no longer enough to cater for their basic needs.

    “Workers create the wealth of any nation. If we create the wealth of Nigeria then we must partake in the sharing of such wealth and therefore the welfare of workers must be paramount. That was why we said that this rally will take place at the length and breadth of the country.

    “So workers must be able to take care of their family, send their children to school. But today, workers are not able to feed three times a day or send their children to school because minimum wage of N18, 000, is no longer sustainable and no longer realistic and cannot take care of worker’s needs. This is the reality.

    “Therefore we have agreed on the negotiation table which took us up to one year negotiating. Workers have being patience and more considerate and we look at all issues and we agreed on the N30,000,

    “Nigeria is the best and largest economy in Africa and south Africa is only second to us. Yet, they are paying N120, 000 as their minimum wage and non of their political elite complained and they were able to deliver. It is the same thing with Ghana and that is why their economy is prospering.

    “So if we have a pool of the working poor there is no way the economy can do better. We are here to submit our letter of protest and demand like our  states councils are doing in their various state right now,  to the FCTA minister and the onward transmission to Mr President. We want to call on  Mr president for onward transmission”.

  • Ondo workers join protest over minimum wage

    Workers in Ondo state like their counterparts across the country on Tuesday protested over a new national minimum wage.

    The organised labour unions who converged on the Cultural Centre went to Governor’s office Alagbaka where they demanded that President, Muhammadu Buhari submit a bill to the parliament for the implementation of the N30, 000 minimum wage for workers.

    The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, while addressing workers in Akure, said the protest became imperative in order to ensure that the minimum wage bill processes for the transmission would be completed.

    A letter by the labour unions to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu reads: “Your Excellency will recall the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage, comprising the government, organised private sector and organised labour has concluded its work and submitted the report with a draft bill to President Muhammadu Buhari on 6th November, 2018.

    “It is also noteworthy that six governors were members of the committee that worked out the new National minimum wage. Therefore, it stands to reason that the report and draft bill were the collective efforts of the broadest spectrum of all concerned parties and should thus commend the support of every governor.

    “Therefore, the organised labour would wish to obtain from your Excellency a commitment to the speedy implementation of the new national minimum wage of N30,000 when enacted into law.

    Read Also: Ambode apprehends motorists for driving against traffic

    “While counting on your excellency to make the best endeavor to express agreement with thus patriotic, convey our polite gesture to your colleagues the enlightened public, generally and advance the cause of the new national minimum wage, we advise that: the political behaviour of Nigeria workers is contingent upon the commitment to the expeditious enactment of the new national minimum wage by the legislature before the polls.

    “Nigerian workers as voters will indeed take their eventual fate to the polling stations and indicate in the ballot their views on the faithful implementation of new minimum wage by the executive before the polls.

    “Nigerian workers and family will not and cause friends and allies not to vote for any candidate in the forthcoming elections who hesitate or refuse to commit to the national minimum wage.

    “For the avoidance of any iota of doubt, the fate of the new national minimum wage will largely determine the electoral preference of Nigerian workers in 2019”.

    Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Ifedayo Abegunde who addressed the labour unions on behalf of the governor however said the welfare of the workers in the state was paramount to the government.

  • Minimum Wage: Labour, FG make progress- Wabba

    Ayuba Wabba, NLC President, has confirmed that the organised labour had a useful discussion with the federal government on Tuesday and promised they would reconvene on Wednesday to finalise talks on the new national minimum wage.

    He said that labour leaders had consulted and agreed to meet with the government on Wednesday by 1p.m to ensure that the processes for the transmission of the bill on the minimum would be completed without further delay.

    But he said that the labour would go ahead with the mass protest nationwide on Wednesday.

    “The protest is about implementation, it has no link with the transmission. We are trying to see how the bill will be transmitted to the National Assembly.

    “The protest is about how to get all parties committed to the issue of minimum wage, it is different from how we get this bill transmitted with timeline to the national assembly,” he added.

    Earlier, Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, said after the closed door meeting with labour on Tuesday in Abuja that they made progress and explained that a definite date to transmit the bill to National Assembly will be known by Wednesday.

    The National Executive Council (NEC) of the NLC had threatened to embark on a nationwide protest on January 8, if the Federal Government failed to transmit the bill on minimum wage to the National Assembly.

    The organised labour gave the threat following President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement that a “high powered technical committee” would be set up to device ways to ensure that minimum wage implementation did not lead to an increase in the level of borrowing.

    “It has been difficult to arrive at a date because there are processes to follow on the bill.

    “We have to go to the Federal Executive Council with a council memo on the bill after that, we will go to the National Economic Council and the Council of State.

    “But for the Council of State, the President has to look at his own time table and we will inform past Heads of State and Justice of the Federation. This can take two weeks.

    “However, we are trying to see if we can accommodate all these meetings by next week because we cannot do Council of State meeting again this week.

    “Immediately after that meeting (Council of State), we will transmit the bill,” he said.