The Chairman, of Trade Union Congress, Enugu State, Comrade Ben Asogwa, Tuesday, frowned at what he called “the reluctance of some states to implement the new N70,000 minimum wage” agreed between the Organised Labour and the government.
He spoke against the directive of the Nigeria Labour Congress on its members to commence nationwide strike from December 1, should the implementation of the new minimum wage fail to be accelerated across the federation.
He said, “Some states are behaving as if they’ve not woken from sleep. What is even N70,000 considering the nation’s current economic realities?
“We accepted the new minimum wage even when it is not realistic. Even the federal government is still discreet about the new wage. The new minimum wage is yet to be captured in salary charts.”
He said the method of its implementation does not factor in what he called “consequential adjustments”, adding that “If states pronounce minimum wage approvals without consequential implementation, such can’t be called a minimum wage.”
He said the delay in its implementation is because of a lack of political will.
In his words, “If you get people who are not sincere, that is what you see; they begin to play games. Nigeria needs leaders who genuinely understand that they are serving the masses.
“Labour leaders are the only voices of the people in Nigeria. Our so-called activists have hidden to get their national cake.”
He attributed the neglect of workers by the political class to the bastardisation of the nation’s electoral system.
Asogwa said, “We are all stakeholders in this burning Nigeria. The era of Adams Oshiomhole as labour leader witnessed politicians listening to Labour because of fear of losing electoral seats. But we have gotten to a point where Nigerian leaders win without votes.
“The current problem of government negligence on Labour is because the system is corrupt.
“They don’t care if we vote or not because votes no longer count.”