The Bishop of Ibadan South Diocese Anglican Communion Rt. Rev. Akintunde Popoola has urged Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to consider poor Nigerians before embarking on the proposed strike over new minimum wage.
He said NLC and TUC should know that poor people suffer most during strikes, urging them to negotiate with government genuinely.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris said the N494,000 minimum wage demanded by labour would impose on the Federal Government a new annual wage bill of N9.5 trillion.
The Minister said government considers payment of such a huge amount unsustainable appealing to Organised Labour to shelve its proposed strike.
Speaking in Ibadan during the thanksgiving service of the occasion of the 1st Session of 9th Synod of the Diocese, Popoola what the NLC is requesting though understandable will lead to uncontrollable inflation.
He said Organised Labour should shift grounds in negotiating for the new minimum wage.
He noted that government also should consider the suffering of people, stating that what government is offering the labour as new minimum wage is not fair.
According to him: “Government should find a way to improve value of naira and increase minimum wage, what many workers are earning cannot take them for a week not to talk of a month.”
He commended Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde for completion of abandoned projects by his predecessor, prompt payment of salaries of workers and release of funds for education and health sector among others.
Credit: punchng.com
