We will resist attempt by FG to reduce workers salaries - NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress has vowed to resist move by the federal government to review salaries of workers earning above N30,000

- The congress says there is nowhere in the world that an introduction of new minimum wage will cause a reduction in earned wages by workers

- According to the congress, what the federal government needs to do is to reduce salaries of political office holders

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has faulted move by the federal government to review salaries of workers who earn above N30,000, saying it will oppose any move to tamper with legitimately earned salaries of workers in guise of implementing the new minimum wage.

The Nation reports that the warning was given by the president of the congress, Ayuba Wabba, who said there was no basis for such move.

Wabba said: “That is not the principle behind the minimum wage and the technical committee is simply a government committee. It is their internal mechanism. I am not so sure that minimum wage is about reducing workers’ wages.

“If they have earned their salaries legitimately, there is no way the minimum wage can reduce it. In fact, the minimum wage is about empowering workers and improving on what they collect. I don’t think that decision is right because every salary a worker earns is legitimately negotiated on the table.

“I think what they need to do is to reduce salaries of political office holders, those that are collecting salaries that are not appropriated or salaries that are humongous. We know the wastages are the security votes and the high cost of governance.”

Waba said the congress had been assured that the National Assembly would make the opportunity available for the government to submit the bill for the N30,000 minimum wage within the stipulated period.

He said: “What we have found out is that they will be in office on that day and that is what we are banking on. They are resuming on the January 16th and they cannot resume on that day and again proceed for recess. It is not possible.

“We have taken that into consideration to say that on or before January 23, the government should submit the Bill. It is an agreement that was signed by three ministers – that of Finance, Budget and Planning and Labour and Employment. NLC and TUC signed on behalf of labour.”

The declaration was made on Tuesday, January 8, by the chairman of the state chapter of NLC, John Ushie.

Uchie, who made the declaration during a peaceful protest in Calabar to press home the workers’ demand for the implementation of the minimum wage, said labour would continue the struggle until the latter is victorious.

According to the NLC chairman in Cross River, the current minimum wage of N18,000 had become obsolete since 2015.

He said: “Labour will continue the struggle until we get victory. Victory does not come easy, it will require all our energy, and it will require us to put all. The minimum wage is long overdue since 2015. Workers have run out of patience, so we are here to take our destinies in our hands."