By Our Reporter
November 23, 2015 – President Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Ayba Wabba has criticized the decision of governors that they will no longer be able to pay the N18,000 minimum wage.
The governors, who spoke at Governors Forum in Abuja said their current revenue cannot sustain the N18,000 minimum wage, citting recent fall in price of oil from $126 to $41.
Speaking on Fact File, on radio, Wabba said it is unfortunate that the governors are directing their attention on reducing salaries of workers when political office holders ear higher salaries and are the cause of the problem.
He wondered why the governors are not talking of cutting salaries and emoluments of political office holders, stressing that the N18,000 minimum wage is probably the newspaper allowance of one lawmaker per day.
He said that by opting to reduce salaries of workers, the governors are declaring total war on Nigerian workers and that labour will resist the move if the governors opt to implement the decision.
“if the governors meet the President on the issue, we are also prepared to meet the President”, he said, adding that minimum wage was not imposed but negotiated before it was signed into law.
While commending Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo State and Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State for opting to stand on the side of the workers and continue with the minimum wage, he said that there was a lot of insincerity about the issue adding that the governors want to cut salaries so as to be able to have more money for bogus contract.
