Admin l Friday, April 19, 2019
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has commended president Muhammadu Buhari for signing the bill approving N30,000 as the new national minimum wage into law.
The bill was passed by both chambers of the National Assembly before the general election. In a statement, president of the Congress, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama and Secretary General, Comrade (Barr.) Musa-Lawal Ozigi, said the new wage would in no small measure give workers a sense of belonging.
Comrade Kaigama, however, noted that while the organised labour appreciates the approval of the new wage, it is also instructive to note that its gains have been eroded by inflation, adding that prices of commodities have gone up even when employers have not commenced payment. Comrade Kaigama said: “the N30,000 monthly National Minimum Wage that we are even asking for to a family of six actually amounts to less than N50 per meal per person. It is exclusive of utility bills, school fees, etc.
“Given our extended family system as Africans we are also expected to once in awhile extend hands of fellowship to parents, in-laws, relations, friends who have lost their jobs, brothers and people of the same faith.
We recall that some lawmakers promised to give the wage bill supersonic attention whenever it was brought before them and they have kept to their word. To us it means we still have men and women with milk of kindness left in them.”
He, therefore, called on the 9th Assembly and well meaning Nigerians to prevail on governors to pay workers their salaries and pension to pensioners as and when due to avoid crisis in the industrial sector. The TUC boss appreciated the Federal Government, lawmakers and Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA) for seeing reason with the workers.
