The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has commended the
national leadership of organised labour over its resilience in the struggle for
a new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
Mr Leonard Nkah, state chairman of NLC, gave this
commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday
in Abakaliki.
According to him, the successful negotiation of a new wage
for Nigerian workers by the leadership of the organised labour is a
demonstration of good virtues and strength of character.
He, therefore, called on the Federal Government and other
relevant authorities to expedite action to get the new wage passed into law to
enable Nigerian workers enjoy a living wage.
“The organised labour in Ebonyi just ended its meeting this
morning, whereby we extolled the virtues and strength of character exhibited by
our national leadership, including the Trade Union Congress (TUC), United
Labour Congress (ULC) and NLC.
“We commended them for holding on tenaciously on the new
national minimum wage until government came around to accept what had earlier
been agreed upon.
“So, we are very happy and we praise the leadership of
organised labour in Nigeria for being undaunted in the struggle,” Nkah said.
He opined that once the new national minimum wage was signed
into law, that state governors were bound to pay.
“Once the new figure is signed into law, nobody not even the
governors, has the powers to say that they cannot pay.
“Anybody who refuses to pay will be going against the law
and we don’t envisage that any governor will refuse to pay the new wage once it
is signed into law.
“In our own state, the governor has stated his willingness
to pay once any amount is agreed upon.
“Once it comes out, organised labour in various states will
approach their various state governors for implementation.
“So, we are hopeful and we are not being negative that
governors may not pay the new wage once signed, but if it happens we will rise
to the occasion,” he added.
The organised labour unions had
suspended the nationwide strike initially scheduled for Tuesday, November 6, to
press home workers’ demand for a new national minimum wage.
The agreed figure for the new national minimum wage would be
announced on Tuesday.
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