The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has vowed to use the opportunity of the 2019 general elections to punish State governors and other politicians paying lip service to the implementation of the proposed N30,000 minimum wage.
Chairman of the NLC in Delta State, Mr. Jonathan Jemiriegbe stated this in Asaba on Tuesday shortly after leading a rally to the Government House where he presented a position paper to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
Okowa who is seeking a second term in office had promised to implement the new minimum wage once it is approved at the national level.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Tam Brisibe, the governor said his administration is labour friendly, and commended the organized labour in the state for their cooperation and support in the past three years.
However, Mr. Jemiriegbe told newsmen that it was not enough to make pronouncement that the new wage will be implemented, saying that the national leadership of NLC will continue to mount pressure on the Federal Government to approve the new wage.
“We will continue to mount pressure on government to expedite action in passing into law the new national minimum wage and its implementation, the onus lies on labour to do the needful.
“Today was rumored to be for mass rally and strike but because of the ongoing negotiations, the second aspect was shelved. I think before the close of work today, we will also hear from the president on the decision reached with Federal Government.
“I am not certain if we are going on another mass rally but rather if Federal Government fails to do the needful as we have heard from the state government that they are waiting for FG, Delta State Government has assured that it will implement immediately.
“So all eyes are on the Federal Government to do the needful, we will then know state governors that are saying the truth and those just hiding under the guise of waiting for approval,” he stated.
The NLC chairman said labour was not against the forthcoming general elections, noting however that if the elections must be successful, the issue of the new minimum wage should not be waved aside.
“We don’t want to be saboteurs in the electoral processes, and that is why we kept our doors opened, whenever we are called upon for negotiation, we always oblige. We don’t want anybody to say that labour wants to truncate the elections.
“But the issue is that if the election must be successful, the aspect of the new minimum wage is not a thing you can just wave aside. The minimum wage is a determinant factor for any politician seeking elective office.
“That is exactly what we are going to do on the day of election. You cannot tell us that you are labour friendly or you are there to represent us and protect our welfare whereas you jettison the new minimum wage,” he added.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
