CIVIL SOCIETY GROUP SUPPORTS PROPOSED WORKERS STRIKE
The body also accused the government of being insincere and unwilling to pay the proposed amount, stressing that the strike is the only way to get the government to accept the proposed minimum wage. .
“Minimum wage by law, and by legitimate demand, is for all workers [from level 01 – 17 and other salary scales] in the public and private employment of 50 or more employees. Indeed, for us in JAF, Minimum wage should be mandatory for all employers regardless the number of employees,” the statement declared.
“The current demand for a new National Minimum Wage has gone beyond the stage of negotiation, hence the N30,000 agreed at the Tripartite Committee, which is even very poor [@ US$83 per month compared to 1981 Minimum Wage of N125 @ US$250), represents an irreducible minimum and therefore, IT IS NOT NEGOTIABLE.”
The Joint Action Front (JAF) was of the view that the Federal Government as well as State Governments will not pay the N30, 000 being proposed by labour if not compelled to do so.
“What is clear today from the unnecessary tensions being generated in the polity by the APC Looters’ Government and its officials is that none of the 36 State Governors and the Federal Government, irrespective of political parties (APC, PDP and APGA) like in past struggles for upward review of wage, is committed to pay the minimum wage without being compelled by struggle to do so.”
The Group said, Governments at all levels should cut jumbo pay for politicians to raise money to pay civil servants and stop complaining about unavailability of funds.
“JAF therefore challenges the Presidency, State Governors and legislators in the National and State Assemblies to forfeit the questionable security votes/ undisclosed allowances, and cut down their outrageous total packages, and salaries and allowances of other political office holders in order to free up more resources that can be used not only to augment the cost of the new wage, but also the provision of social welfare programmes, such as free and quality education and free and adequate health care.”
Penpushing recalled that, following the breakdown of negotiation with the government, the organised labour declared that it would with effect from November 6 embark an indefinite strike,nut in swift reponse, the government, secured an order from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria on Friday stopping the two main labour unions in the country, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) from embarking on the planned strike.
