The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says state governors
cannot dictate the amount to pay as the minimum wage to workers in their
respective states.
On Thursday, governors under the umbrella of the Southern
Governors’ Forum reportedly said each state should negotiate the new wage with
the labour unions based on their ability to pay.
However, in a statement on Friday signed by Ben Ukpa, the
union’s spokesperson, the NLC said the notion that governors could pay whatever
they deem fit is “dictatorial” and undermines the essence of the model adopted
for creating a national minimum wage in the country.
The NLC said the governors’ demand to unilaterally determine
the minimum wage threatens the welfare of Nigerian workers and the national
economy.
“The concept of a
national minimum wage is not arbitrary. It represents a national wage floor, a
baseline below which no worker under the law should be paid,” the statement
reads.
“This threshold is a collective agreement that ensures a minimum
standard of living for every worker under the law.
“It is important to remind the governors that the national
minimum wage is not synonymous with the individual pay structures of the states
that they implement religiously, reflecting their unique financial capabilities
and circumstances.
Advertisement
“This diversity in pay structures underscores the
flexibility that already exists within the system, allowing states to reward
their workers in alignment with their financial realities.”
The labour body said the pursuit by many governors to pay
workers whatever they like deepens poverty and causes varying dimensions of
insecurity.
“The governors are carried away by their present structure
of security detail, but the sword of Damocles awaits them on exit from office,”
the labour union said.
“It is unfortunate that workers’ salaries are often seen as
charity rather than the hard-earned income of hardworking Nigerians. It is
equally painful that some of these governors fail to realise that workers’
salaries substantially drive the economy.
“Not surprisingly,
they prioritise their greed over the needs of ordinary citizens.
“The fate of Nigerian workers cannot be left solely in the
hands of employers, whether public or private. No sane society does that.
“What the governors are asking for is akin to allowing
numerous companies and organisations in Nigeria to pay workers whatever they
like.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com